ABSTRACT
The virus-inhibitory activity of a molecular complex (MC) of tilorone and yeast RNA was studied in vitro on three virus-cell systems: vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) - murine fibroblast L929 cells, Venezuelan equine encephalittis virus (VEEV) - swine embryo kidney (SEK) cells and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) - established piglet testicular (EPT) cells. In all these systems the MC exerted an antiviral effect similar to that of polynucleotide interferon (IFN) inducers such as poly(I)-poly(C), larifan and ridostin. The antiviral effect of the MC was similar when the compound was applied before or after virus adsorption to cells. The MC may be regarded as a perspective antiviral agent of common use.
Subject(s)
Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , RNA, Fungal/pharmacology , Tilorone/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Macromolecular Substances , Organic Chemicals , RNA, Double-Stranded/pharmacology , Virus Replication/drug effects , Yeasts/geneticsABSTRACT
Tonsils excised from human beings for chronic tonsillitis have been shown to be an accessible and sufficiently rich source of human lymphocytes. Tonsil cells produced interferon as intensively as blood leukocytes and the properties of this interferon were similar to those of leukocyte interferon. The optimal conditions for interferon production by tonsil cells were established.
