Non-specific inhibition by virus particles of human lymphocytes mitogenesis

Many different types of virus particles including avian retroviruses, Friend leukaemia virus and Sendai virus are able, when coincubated with human peripheral blood lymphocytes in the presence of mitogens or alloantigens, to inhibit the usual proliferative responses that normally ensue. These effects are independent of infection and can be obtained using u.v.-inactivated viruses as well as virus-lymphocyte combinations which are non-physiological in nature. Lymphocytes which are preincubated with viruses for as little as 5 min, and then washed free of unbound virus, are significantly impaired in terms of ability to react to mitogenic stimulus. These events may be mediated, in part at least, by the virus-induced elaboration by mononuclear cells of a factor with lymphocyte inhibitory potential.