Interferon-induced cytotoxicity and (2'-5') oligo(A) synthetase activity in T cells. Differences in responsiveness among T cells from various individuals and among lymphoblastoid T-cell lines.

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes became cytotoxic toward Daudi lymphoblastoid cells when incubated in vitro with interferon (IFN). The degree and rate of response to IFN varied markedly from one blood donor to another. "Low responders," who reproducibly showed a slower response to IFN, as well as "high responders" could be identified. The rate of increase in (2'-5') oligo(A) synthetase activity in IFN-treated cells also varied and appeared to correlate to the rate of increase in cytotoxicity. Three lymphoblastoid T-cell lines (Molt 4, Peer, HPB-ALL) also became cytotoxic towards Daudi cells when incubated with IFN and in these cells too the rate of induction of cytotoxicity appeared to correlate to the rate of increase in (2'-5') oligo(A) synthetase activity. Differences in responsiveness of T cells to IFN-mediated cytotoxicity might, therefore, reflect differences in responsiveness to IFN in general. Thus, quantitation of these differences might yield useful information for assessing the dosage and frequency of IFN administration to patients undergoing therapy.