Antiviral and antiproliferative activity of human interferons and their induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase

Native preparations of alpha, beta and gamma-interferons as well as recombinant beta-interferon and purified leukocyte alpha-interferon and purified leukocyte alpha-interferon exert antiviral and antiproliferative activity in CaOv cells. Native interferon preparations were shown to be more antiproliferative than purified interferons per unit of antiviral activity (with EMC as well as with less susceptible VSV used as test viruses). It was shown that level of 2'5' oligoadenylatesynthetase activity induction in general correlates with antiproliferative and pronounced antiviral activity of interferons, besides that, the earlier (by 11 hours) induction of the enzyme activity by beta-interferon correlates with more rapid expression of antiproliferative effects by this interferon in comparison with that of alpha-interferon, the latter inducing the peak of enzyme activity by 24 hours.