title: The role of interferons in the resistance to murine cytomegalovirus.
abstract: The protective effect of IFN alpha/beta or IFN-gamma against MCMV infection in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) of genetically resistant and susceptible strains have been examined. For this purpose, MEF derived from Balb/c, C3H, DBA2, C57BL6 mouse strains were used. Cells were pretreated for 24 hrs with either IFN alpha/beta or IFN-gamma and subsequently infected with MCMV at different M.O.I. No difference in susceptibility to MCMV was observed between untreated Balb/c, C3H, C57 and DBA2-MEF when infected at a M.O.I. of 5 whereas at a M.O.I. of 1 or 0.5 untreated DBA2-MEF displayed the highest susceptibility to viral infection. Pretreatment of MEF with IFN alpha/beta showed that the degree of protection to MCMV was dependent on the M.O.I. used. At a M.O.I. of 5, IFN alpha/beta did not inhibit viral replication in any MEF tested, whereas at a M.O.I. of 1 or 0.5 was protective in C3H-MEF and to a lesser extent in Balb/c-MEF. No protection was observed in DBA2 and C57-MEF. Different results were observed when MEF were pretreated with IFN-gamma. C57-MEF were protected when infected at a M.O.I. of 5 or 1; no protection was observed at a M.O.I. of 0.5. Balb/c-MEF were protected only at a M.O.I. of 1. No protection was observed in C3H and DBA2-MEF.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gariglio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cofano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landolfo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons