Mouse Interferons: Production by Ehrlich Ascites Tumour Cells Infected with Newcastle Disease Virus and its Enhancement by Theophylline

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Abstract
Conditions are described for the production of 0.3-0.7 NIH mouse reference standard units of interferon per cell from [mouse] Ehrlich ascites tumor cells cultured as monolayers and induced by infection with Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Inclusion of theophylline (6 mM) in the medium increased the interferon yield 3-4 times. Cells infected with NDV started to lyse at about 15 h p.i. [post-infection], but infected, theophylline-treated cells lysed only 24 h p.i. Several other methylxanthines (e.g., theobromine, caffeine and isobutylmethylxanthine), when tested at concentrations similar to that of theophylline, did not boost interferon production. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10-6-10-2 M) did not substitute for theophylline in increasing interferon production, and, if used together with theophylline, did not cause further enhancement.