Interferon inhibition of hexose monophosphate shunt activity as the mechanism of blocking differentiation of a preadipose cell line

Mouse L cell interferon (IFN $\text{α}\text{β}$) inhibited the differentiation of mouse 3T3-Li fibroblasts into adipocytes. IFN $\text{α}\text{β}$ also inhibited hexose monophosphate shunt (HMP) activity in these cells. HMP activity is required for the reducing power necessary for the conversion of 3T3-Li fibroblasts to adipocytes. Both IFN blockage of differentiation and HMP activity were reversed by the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol, probably through interaction with membrane receptors and not through direct inactivation of IFN. Several non-antiviral effects of IFN $\text{α}\text{β}$ on cellular function, including differentiation and immunoregulation, may be mediated at the biochemical level through blockage of HMP activity.