Sequential administrations of polyriboinosinic acid and polyribocytidylic acid induce interferon and depress the hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system

Double-stranded polyriboinosinic acid·polyribocytidylic acid is a potent interferon inducing agent and depressant of hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase systems. Single-stranded polyriboinosinic acid or polyribocytidylic acid are not. However, it is known that interferon is induced in mice when the administration of polyriboinosinic acid is followed shortly thereafter by the administration of polyribocytidylic acid. The current study demonstrates that this sequential administration of single-stranded polynucleotides induces serum and hepatic interferon and depresses the cytochrome P-450 systems. Neither of these effects were seen when the order of administration of these polynucleotides was reversed.