Sendai virus induces various cytokines in human peripheral blood leukocytes: Different susceptibility of cytokine molecules to low pH

Virus infection of cell cultures induces the synthesis of various cytokines which can either inhibit or stimulate virus replication. The Sendai virus induces large quantities of biologically active interferon (IFN-alpha n3) i n human peripheral blood leukocytes (hPBL) in vitro, as well as many other cytokines. The supernatants of Sendai virus-infected hPBL contained biologi cally active IFN-alpha n3, significant amounts of immunogenic IFN-gamma, mo nokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-beta, TNF-alpha), lymphokines (IL-6, TNF-beta), gro wth factor (PDGF-AB) and small concentrations of IL-2 and GM-CSF. The analy sis of the influence of the Sendai virus inactivation by lowering pH 2.0 on the cytokine concentrations showed that IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta an d IFN-gamma are susceptible to acid conditions, while IFN-alpha n3, IL-1 be ta, IL-6 and IL-2 concentrations remained unchanged. (C) 1999 Academic Pres s.