Kinetics of human immune interferon production and blastogenesis

We studied some of the requirements for production of immune interferon (IFN-gamma) by human peripheral leucocytes following stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A). Synthesis of IFN-gamma commenced 2 hr after the cells were exposed to the lectin and continued for about 20 hr thereafter. IFN-gamma production during the latter period was independent of free Con A in the culture medium but it was sustained by continued Con A binding and required active de novo protein synthesis. Egg lecithin, which inhibits the blastogenic response, did not affect IFN-gamma production.