Interferon-mediated inhibition of virus penetration.

Pretreatment of mouse L cells with mouse interferon (IFN) inhibits the penetration of vesicular stomatitis virus without affecting viral adsorption. The inhibition of virus uptake by IFN is dose dependent and, at the highest dose tested (1,000 units/ml), reaches 65%; 24 hr of treatment with IFN are required for maximal effect. A similar inhibition of uptake of virus occurs in human diploid fibroblasts and primary chicken embryo fibroblasts treated with homologous IFN. No significant inhibition occurs when cells are treated with heterologous IFN. These results document a previously unrecognized antiviral effect of IFN--namely, inhibition at the level of viral uptake.