Enhanced susceptibility to cytotoxic T lymphocytes of target cells isolated from virus-infected or interferon-treated mice.

Bone marrow cells and thymocytes isolated from virus-infected or interferon (IFN)-treated mice had marked increases in sensitivity to lysis by allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and in expression of class I histocompatibility antigens. Cultured fibroblasts treated with IFN in vitro yielded similar findings in addition to having increased sensitivity to lysis by virus-specific CTL. This indicates that virus-induced IFN may condition target cells in vivo for surveillance by CTL.