Cells infected with herpes simplex virus induce human monocyte-macrophages to produce interferon

Human monocyte-macrophages (MO) produced interferon when incubated with human fibroblast, Vero cell, or rabbit kidney cell cultures infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV). Induction of MO interferon required a 12-hour incubation with the HSV-infected cultures. The interferon produced biologically resembled human leukocyte-derived rather than human fibroblasts-derived interferon.