Membrane interactions involved in the induction of interferon-alpha by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Interferon (IFN) induction by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been studied. We show that IFN yields depend on the concentration of both lymphocytes and MP. The effective IFN inducer appears to be the mycoplasma membrane, and IFN production occurs without significant lymphocyte proliferation. Data obtained by both positive and negative selection experiments suggest that the PBMC subpopulation induced by MP is B lymphocyte, as opposed to the main subpopulation induced by NDV that is monocyte. Evidence is also provided suggesting that the membrane interaction between MP and the B cells is mediated by MHC Class II antigens.