title: Comparative susceptibility of respiratory viruses to recombinant interferons-alpha 2b and -beta.
abstract: Intranasal recombinant interferon-alpha 2b (rIFN-alpha 2b) protects against natural colds due to rhinoviruses, but apparently not against those caused by viruses. Because rIFN-beta serine17 (rIFN-beta ser) appears less active than rIFN-alpha 2b in preventing natural rhinovirus colds, we compared the two IFNs in two in vitro assays against selected respiratory viruses. In a yield reduction assay, both IFNs had comparable activity against rhinovirus types 39 and 1A and coronavirus 229E, which were inhibited by 90% or more at IFN concentrations of 10(-11) to 10(-10) gram of protein/ml (approximately 2-20 IU/ml). Similar activities were observed with rIFN-beta ser against rhinoviruses isolated from clinical specimens. At concentrations of 10(-9) gram protein/ml, both IFNs inhibited the growth of influenza A and parainfluenza viruses, but not of adenovirus or respiratory syncytial virus in the cell culture systems tested. Thus, the different clinical protection conferred by rIFN-alpha 2b and rIFN-beta ser in studies of natural rhinovirus colds are not accounted for by differences in their in vitro activity against these viruses, and other explanations must be found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sperber
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Hayden
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D014762:Viral Interference
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a