[Formation of immune interferon and blast transformation in stimulated cultures of human lymphocytes]

Lymphocyte blast transformation (LBT) and interferon (IF) production were studied in 55 phytohemagglutinin- and dry purified tuberculin-stimulated lymphocyte cultures obtained from normal subjects (7 adults and 24 children). A relationship has been disclosed between LBT and interferon production. However, in some of the culture with marked LBT there occurred a defective IF production. On the contrary, with suppressed PHA-induced transformation, IF production was within normal. The role of the interferon production test for estimation of the functional activity of human lymphocytes is discussed.