Regulation of immune interferon production during the response to soluble microbial antigens.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated in vitro with purified protein derivative (PPD) or with a Candida albicans polysaccharide extract (MPPS) released immune interferon (IFN) and interleukin 2 (IL-2). Kinetic studies showed a biphasic production of IFN with maximum levels at days 3-4 and days 5-6 of culture. In contrast, the IL-2 production is only observed at days 2-3 of culture. The relationship between IFN and IL-2, analysed both in responder and nonresponder PBMC cultures, showed that the early peak of IFN production appears to be IL-2 independent whereas the second peak seems strictly related to the presence of IL-2 culture. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies against class I and class II products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) inhibited IFN production when added at the beginning of culture, whereas only anti-class I antibodies interfered with the release of IFN when added to antigen-primed lymphocytes.