Interferon responsiveness of rabbit synovial cells and chondrocytes.

Rabbit synovial cells (SC), articular chondrocytes (AC), and epiphyseal (EC) chondrocytes were grown in vitro. A portion of the spectrum of human pathogenic viruses infective for the cells was determined. Responses of the cells to different viruses or a chemical inducer of interferon varied, with EC responding vigorously and with high titers, AC responding only to chemical inducer and influenza virus, and SC producing no detectable interferon. All cells supported prolonged growth of influenza virus without showing microscopic cytopathology.