Respiratory virus infection of peripheral blood monocytes: correlation with ageing of cells and interferon production in vitro.

The ability of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) to replicate in peripheral blood monocytes cultured in vitro for 1, 2, 4 or 7 days prior to infection was investigated. Inoculation of 1-day old monocytes produced at least tenfold less new virus than infection of the older, more macrophage-like cells for both viruses. PIV3 induced extensive syncytium formation, whereas RSV caused a cytopathic effect manifest by increased rounding of the cells with minimal syncytium formation. Supernatants of infected monocytes were assayed for human interferon-alpha (HuIFN-alpha) in an attempt to explain the restricted viral replication in the youngest monocytes. In PIV3-infected cells, HuIFN-alpha production was inversely correlated with new virus formation. Monocytes infected after 1 day in culture produced 800 IU/ml of HuIFN-alpha; the older cells produced 100 to 200 IU/ml. In contrast, monocytes infected on day 1 with RSV produced minimal amounts (1.5 IU/ml) of HuIFN-alpha. Increasing amounts of HuIFN-alpha were detected in cells infected with RSV after 2, 4 or 7 days in culture, reaching a maximum of 400 IU/ml on day 7. Further investigation of the apparent restriction of replication in young monocyte cultures may be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of these respiratory infections.