Abstract
Summary
This report describes a cell culture system with nasal epithelial (NE) cells in which the interferon (IF) response of these cells was compared with the IF response of human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells. The antiviral state that developed in NE cells after exposure to human leukocyte IF was less than the antiviral state that developed in HFF cells. In addition, the slope of the dose-response curve for HFF cells was greater than that for NE cells. It could be demonstrated that the antiviral state developed rapidly in NE cells following a brief (15-min) exposure to IF at 34°C provided a high IF concentration was used. Two respiratory viruses were tested for sensitivity to the IF-induced antiviral state that develops in NE cells. Both coxsackievirus A type 21 and parainfluenza virus type 3 were slightly less sensitive to the IF-induced antiviral state in NE cells compared to vesicular stomatitis virus.
We sincerely appreciate the excellent technical assistance of Michéle Pelanne.
This work was supported by Public Health Service Contracts AI 42530 and AI 32506 from the Development and Applications Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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