INTERFERON INDUCTION BY CELL-CELL INTERACTION OF HIV-INFECTED MONOCYTES MACROPHAGES WITH LYMPHOCYTES

An in vitro model of interferon (IFN) induction in HIV infection was established. IFN are induced by a cooperative mechanism, involving monocytes/macrophages (M/M) as well as lymphocytes. M/M non-lytically infected with HTLV-IIIB did not produce IFN, but were able to induce high titres of IFN activity when cocultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes, cell-cell contact being required. IFN-alpha as well as IFN-gamma were induced, as shown by neutralization with specific antisera. The antiviral activity of HIV-induced IFN was shown by infectivity reduction assays, and the immune-modulating capacity was demonstrated by activation of M/M leading to neopterin release.