Suppression of gamma interferon production by inactivated feline leukemia virus.

Supernatants from cultures of normal feline lymphocytes stimulated with Staphylococcus enterotoxin A showed antiviral activity, characterized as a gamma-like interferon. With the addition of inactivated feline leukemia virus, markedly less interferon was produced. The reduction in interferon production was not attributable to lowered lymphocyte viability or reduced mitogenic properties of Staphylococcus enterotoxin A and appears to be a direct retroviral effect. This finding may reflect clinically relevant events that may contribute to the development of the feline or human states of acquired immunodeficiency.