The effect of interferon on lymphocyte-mediated effector cell functions: selective enhancement of natural killer cells.

The effect of human interferons on different types of lymphocyte-mediated killer assays was explored. Killing by T cells generated through mixed lymphocyte cultures as well as antibody-dependent lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was not influenced by the addition of interferon. Enhancement of cytolysis produced by natural killer cells was observed when interferon was added during the assay, but enhancement could also be induced if the effector cells were pretreated with interferon for 2 hr prior to the lytic reaction. Killing of a cell line susceptible to natural killing was increased and a cell line which is normally relatively resistant to this type of killing became a susceptible target.