title: Reduction in antiviral activity of human beta interferon by gallic acid.
abstract: Gallic acid (GA) is a common part of the human diet, both in the free form and as a metabolite of tannic acid and propyl gallate. Cell cultures were incubated with mixtures of either GA and beta interferon (IFN-beta) (formerly fibroblast IFN) or medium and IFN-beta. The cells were subsequently challenged with virus. The virus plaque yields were greater in cells incubated with IFN-beta and GA than in cells incubated with IFN-beta and medium, indicating that in the former mixture, IFN-beta had lost antiviral activity. The magnitude of the loss was dependent upon the GA concentration. IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma (formerly leukocyte IFN and immune IFN, respectively) were not similarly affected. The effect of GA on IFN-beta could be reversed with 2-mercaptoethanol, suggesting a possible sulfhydryl involvement. Extensive dialysis of IFN-beta-GA mixtures to remove the GA failed to reverse the reduction in antiviral activity. This suggests that a direct and irreversible interaction between IFN-beta and GA took place, reducing the activity of IFN-beta. The significance of this finding with regard to virus infections of the intestine is discussed.
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D005707:Gallic Acid; D007372:Interferons