ABSTRACT
Effects of exogenous cytokines on replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in amniotic membrane and placental organ cultures (OC) were studied. We compared the effects observed in OC and established human carcinoma cell lines: A549 and HEp-2. Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rHuTNF-alpha), added to amniotic membrane, villous, or decidual OC at concentrations of 30 to 3000 U/ml, potentiated VSV replication by 10-1000 fold. Addition of 5 to 10000 U/ml of recombinant human interleukin 6 (rHuIL-6) to OC from 5 placentas was without effect on VSV growth, except one culture in which enhanced VSV replication has been observed. rHuTNF-alpha was found to have no effect on VSV growth in HEp-2 and A549 cell cultures. In contrast, the placental OC were sensitive to antiviral activity of natural interferons (IFNs): alpha, beta and recombinant IFN-gamma, although A549 cells were 5 to 10 fold more responsive to the cytokines.
