Production of high levels of human leukocyte interferon from a continuous human myeloblast cell culture.

A myeloblast cell line has proved to be an excellent source of human leukocyte interferon. These cells, primed with interferon and induced with Sendai virus, produced optimal levels of human leukocyte interferon. The cells grew readily in spinner flasks and in medium containing horse serum. Interferon production over several months yielded an average titer of 2 X 10(5) reference units of interferon per 10(7) cells. The interferon produced by these cells appeared to be predominantly species of human leukocyte interferon. Since these cells seemed to consist of myeloblasts, it is clear that cells other than B-lymphocytes can produce leukocyte interferon.