Effect of temperature on interferon production in mouse lymphocytes

Interferon production by NDV-stimulated mouse cells was tested at various temperatures. The peritoneal non-adherent lymphocytes, adherent macrophages, mouse embryonic fibroblasts and L929 cells were used. Only lymphocytes produced two types of interferons depending on the temperature of incubation. Multifold stimulations of lymphocytes with NDV with parallel alterations of the temperature of incubation revealed that as early as after the first stimulation, they achieved the state of tolerance and stopped producing interferon even after repeated inductions or temperature alterations. It was also noted that the temperature of cell incubation determines the production of two types of interferon as soon as interferon appeared in the culture fluid.