Effect of natural human interferon‐beta on the replication of human cytomegalovirus

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Abstract
The antiviral effect of natural human interferon‐beta (HuIFN‐β) against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was evaluated in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HEL). Natural HuIFN‐β, like other HuIFNs, inhibited the replication of CMV. Pretreatment of the cells with natural HuIFN‐β inhibited the appearance of immediate‐early antigen (IEA) or pre‐early nuclear antigen (PENA) as well as the production of infectious CMV. After a single treatment with natural HuIFN‐β, intracellular 2′, 5′‐oligoadenylate (2‐5A) synthetase activity was induced and maintained at a high level for several days. The anti‐CMV effect of natural HuIFN‐β correlated with the intracellular 2‐5A synthetase activity.