Mechanical Responses of Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Rat Interferon

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Abstract
Mechanical responses elicited by rat interferon (IFN) were investigated in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMC) in primary culture. IFN induced a dose-dependent reduction in the apparent cell surface area, which was quantitatively comparable to, or even greater than, the response elicited by the α-adrenergic agent, phenylephrine. Neither mock-IFN nor rat IFN-neutralized with specific antibodies elicited such a response. The sensitivity of RVSMC to the mechanical effect of IFN was species specific. In addition, the effect of IFN was inhibited by the Ca2+ entry blocker, verapamil.