title: Enhancement of the antiviral and interferon-inducing activities of poly r(A-U) by carminic acid.
abstract: Experiments have been designed to systematically examine the effects of carminic acid (CAR) on the antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U), using the human foreskin fibroblast-vesicular stomatitis virus bioassay system. Modulation of the antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U) by carminic acid was examined at fixed poly r(A-U) concentrations of 0.05 mM or 0.2 mM while varying the carminic acid concentrations to produce variable CAR/ribonucleotide ratios ranging from 1:16 to 2:1. Carminic acid and poly r(A-U) were tested individually at the concentrations employed in the CAR/poly r(A-U) combinations. Neither the carminic acid alone nor poly r(A-U) alone were effective antiviral agents/interferon inducers. The antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U) was potentiated twelve-fold at CAR/ribonucleotide ratios in the region of 1/6 to 1/4. These results suggest a synergism between the poly r(A-U) and the carminic acid at the concentrations employed in this study.
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002329:Carmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011063:Poly A-U / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011063:Poly A-U; D007372:Interferons; D002329:Carmine