Interferon Effect on Cellular Functions: Enhancement of Virus Induced Inhibition of Host Cell Protein Synthesis in Interferon-Treated Cells
Abstract Total protein synthesis in mouse cells but not in confluent chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) is inhibited shortly after infection with vaccinia virus. This inhibition by the infecting virus is enhanced drastically if the mouse cells have been pretreated with homologous interferon preparations. The enhanced reduction of protein synthesis also occurs if the cells are treated with actinomycin D and is therefore to a large extent caused by an enhanced inhibition of amino acid incorporation into host cell proteins. Enhanced inhibition of total protein synthesis during the early stages of infection may be a prerequisite for the complete degeneration of the cells (lysis) which occurs later. Various alterations of mouse cells and chick embryo fibroblasts due to exposure to homologous interferon preparations are discussed with respect to the antiviral state induced in these cells