Effects of interferons and interleukin 2 on natural killing of cytomegalovirus-infected fibroblasts.

Abstract

The ability of nonadherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal individuals to lyse noninfected and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected human fibroblasts was enhanced by preincubation with recombinant human alpha interferon (alpha-rIFN) or beta (beta-rIFN). In contrast, recombinant human gamma IFN (gamma-rIFN) augmented natural killing (NK) against both targets relatively poorly. Recombinant or natural human interleukin 2(IL-2) also augmented NK against noninfected and CMV-infected targets. Augmentation of NK by IFN or IL-2 could be blocked by the addition of corresponding antisera. IL-2-enhanced NK against CMV-infected targets was usually independent of alpha-IFN production.