Selective increase in lymphocyte interferon response to vaccinia antigen after revaccination.

Viral antigen prepared by heat inactivation of vaccinia virus stimulated production of interferon in association with transformation of sensitized human lymphocytes in vitro. Involvement of a macrophage-lymphocyte interaction in production of interferon stimulated by viral antigen was found in which macrophage greatly augmented the amount of interferon produced by lymphocytes. Reimmunization with live vaccinia virus resulted in a selective increase in the ability of lymphocytes to produce interferon in the presence of viral antigen 4-7 weeks later without a corresponding increase in the degree of already significant lymphocyte transformation. There was no correlation between the extent of lymphocyte transformation and the amount of interferon produced. The augmented interferon response after reimmunization described in this study may be a significant component of the protective effect of immunization with vaccinia against disease occurring after exposure to small-pox.