In vitro modulation of human natural killer cell activity by interferon: Generation of adherent suppressor cells

Abstract

Summary The in vivo and in vitro effects of human a-interferon (IFN) on blood natural killer (NK) cell activity were studied in patients with malignant melanoma. The initial response to an i.m. injection of IFN was a depression of blood NK cell activity, being detectable at 4h and reaching a nadir at 12h. Blood NK cell activity returned to or exceeded pretreatment levels within 24 h.

Low Dose Poly I:C Prevents Diabetes in the Diabetes Prone BB Rat

“…The specific regulatory-cell which may be augmented is yet to be identified but our results suggest that it is not the RT6 + T-cell, a cell reported to exhibit suppressor activity [29,30]. Since IFN-is induced by poly I:C, increases class-I MHC expression, and has been shown to induce suppressor cell activity [31], IFN-may play a role in the augmentation of regulatory cell activity.…”

Gamma Interferon Paradoxically Inhibits the Development of Diabetes in the NOD Mouse

“…In fact, rIFN-administration has been demonstrated to inhibit the induction of immunosuppression [25,26]. However, there are a few reports describing the induction of immune cells with suppressor like properties by rIFN- [27].…”

Gamma interferon prevents diabetes in the BB rat

“…Analysis of mononuclear cell phenotypes of PBMC from IFN-␥-treated animals demonstrated no differences in phenotype subpopulations of peripheral mononuclear cells that could account for the effect of rIFN-␥. The prevention of insulitis could be mediated by the property of IFN-␥ to induce suppressor cells (9,27). If present, RT6.1 ϩ cells (putative suppressor cells [4]) do not appear to play a role since their numbers were not augmented by IFN-␥ administration.…”