Effect of interferon‐α on measles virus replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We analyzed the effect of exogenous human leukocyte interferon (IFN)‐α on measles virus (MV) replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The release of infectious virus was progressively reduced by increasing concentrations of IFN‐α, and blocked with an IFN‐α concentration of 1000 U/ml. In order to detect a possible target of this inhibitory effect, viral transcription and translation events were analyzed. The synthesis of MV mRNAs was reduced, but not blocked, in the presence of IFN‐α. However, this effect was not specific on the viral RNAs, but due to a general inhibition of RNA synthesis in IFN‐treated PBMC. The expression of viral polypeptides was also inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner by exogenous IFN‐a, but a low level of protein synthesis was detected by both Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques, even with the maximum amount of IFN‐α used (1000 U/ml). These findings account for a partial maintenance of the viral replicative cycle, even when the production of infectious virus is blocked. Moreover, the effect of IFN‐α is not specifically targeted on the virus macromolecular synthesis.