Human blood lymphocytes stimulated with nonviral antigens in vitro produce an antiviral substance with the biological and biochemical characteristics of interferon. The induced response was specific for cells obtained from immune donors. Cells from nonimmune donors did not produce interferon on exposure to these substances. The quantity of interferon produced by antigen stimulation was related to concentration of antigen over a relatively narrow range; with higher concentrations induction was decreased. Interferon production was maximum during days 4 to 7 in culture. In contrast, phytohemagglutinin-induced interferon was primarily produced during the first 4 days in culture.

No abstract

Monkey-kidney cells bearing new surface antigens induced by infection with mumps virus were lysed selectively by diphtheria toxin conjugated to antibody against mumps antigens.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is most common in childhood but it affects all age groups; it represents a diathesis of the aerodigestive tract so that lesions amy develop at various sites - the nares, lips, pharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, tracheobronchial tree, approximately one-third of patients for one year or more; since relapses amy occasionally occur 2 to 20 years later, cure can never be assumed. At the present time, management is directed towards total ablation of all visble papilloma consistent with preservation of the airway and voice; reduction of the tumor burden to minimal proportions is thought to allow the maximum opportunity for remission. As the host-papilloma relationship is unraveled, it may be possible in the future to provoke an immune response so that remissions can be predicted and produced consistently.

An alpha globulin fraction prepared from normal human plasma by column chromatography prevents homologous lymphocyte transformation and the stimulation of DNA, and also protein synthesis induced by phytohemagglutinin and specific antigens. These observations support the concept of a normal circulating immunosuppressant factor which prevents lymphoid cell proliferation.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract