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Tumour cell lines induce interferon in human lymphocytes

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Abstract

VIRAL infection of cells induces synthesis and release of interferon which renders uninfected cells resistant to subsequent virus infection. Interferon production can also be stimulated by non-viral agents, such as microorganisms1, substances of microbial origin and synthetic polymers2. Moreover, interferon can be stimulated in lymphocytes by mitogenic lectins3, antilymphocyte sera4, viral antigens5–7, PPD8 and exposure to allogeneic cells9. An antitumour effect of interferon and interferon inducers has been demonstrated in vivo10–12. It has been postulated that interferon may act by directly inhibiting tumour cell growth13 and by stimulating host defence mechanisms14–16. We report here that certain human cell lines are able to induce high levels of interferon on contact with human lymphocytes.

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Author notes

  1. GIORGIO TRINCHIERI

    Present address: Institut Suisse de Recherches Expérimentales sur le Cancer, CH-1066, Épalinges, S. Lausanne, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, 36th Street at Spruce, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

    GIORGIO TRINCHIERI, DANIELA SANTOLI & BARBARA B. KNOWLES

Authors
  1. GIORGIO TRINCHIERI
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  2. DANIELA SANTOLI
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  3. BARBARA B. KNOWLES
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TRINCHIERI, G., SANTOLI, D. & KNOWLES, B. Tumour cell lines induce interferon in human lymphocytes. Nature 270, 611–613 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270611a0

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