A distinct population of nonphagocytic and low level CD4+ null lymphocytes produce IFN-alpha after stimulation by herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

Human PBMC were stimulated for 6 h in vitro by HSV or Sendai virus (SV) and analyzed by flow cytometry. IFN-alpha producing cells (IPC) were identified through their content of IFN-alpha mRNA by in situ hybridization using a 35S-labeled IFN-alpha 2 cRNA probe. The IPC induced by HSV-infected WISH cells lacked capacity to adhere to and phagocytose latex particles. The induction of IFN-alpha by free infectious SV occurring in monocytes was abolished by phagocytosis of latex particles present in the cultures during the induction period. Such latex particles actually enhanced the IFN-alpha response induced by glutaraldehyde-fixed HSV- or SV-infected WISH cells or by free intact HSV. The HSV-induced IPC did not express the CD14 Ag expressed on monocytes. Cell sorting was performed on HSV-induced PBMC labeled with phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD3 and FITC-conjugated anti-CD4 mAb. A small population consisting of 1.4% of all PBMC, which was CD3- but expressed low but significant levels of CD4, contained the majority of the IPC with a 50-fold increase of their frequency. This cell population had a forward- and right-angle light scatter different from typical monocytes/macrophages. The results therefore further delineate IPC among PBMC into monocytes, being stimulated by viruses such as SV. Another distinct population of infrequent but highly efficient IPC, tentatively designated natural IFN-alpha producing cells, is activated by stimuli such as HSV.