Interferon production by human marrow stromal cells

We have demonstrated that normal human bone marrow stromal cells can be induced to produce high levels of beta-interferon (IFN). One of three randomly selected human stromal cell lines produced beta-IFN in similar amounts to one of the best beta-IFN producer cell lines produced beta-IFN in similar amounts to one of the best beta-IFN producer cell lines (MG-63 osteosarcoma cells). The marrow stromal cell lines did not produce gamma-IFN, though a low level of alpha-IFN was apparently produced. The stromal cell lines differ from usual producer cell lines in that they can be subcultured for a much longer growth period and also maintain the ability to producer IFN. The cells are karyotypically normal and are not virus transformed. Such cell lines may be useful in the production of human IFN as well as allowing studies on the role of IFN in stromal cell-haemopoietic cell interactions.