Stimulation of Human Natural Killer Cytotoxicity and Protection of Mice from Infection Due to Herpes Simplex Virus by Recombinant Human Leukocyte Interferon

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Abstract
Destruction of virus-infected cells in the absence of antibody (natural killer cytotoxicity [NKCD has been correlated with resistance to infection due to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Two preparations of human leukocyte interferon produced by recombinant DNA bacteria — IFLrA and IFLrD — were demonstrated to increase NKC in a dose-dependent fashion in vitro. IFLrA was more potent than was IFLrD in this assay. When administered intraperitoneally in combination with human leukocytes to one-week-old mice, IFLrA and IFLrD significantly increased survival (to 47.6% [PP < 0.05], respectively) after an otherwise uniformly lethal challenge of HSV. Differences between interferon immunostimulating activities at similar antiviral concentrations may be important in vivo in animals and in clinical settings.