Influence of various purified interferons on effects of drugs in mice.

Direct determinations indicate that some types of interferon increase the duration of hexobarbital-induced sleep time and decrease acetaminophen toxicity. Pretreatment of mice with cloned human leukocyte interferon subtype A, IFN-alpha A, did not increase hexobarbital sleep time but pretreatment with mouse interferon or a hybrid human leukocyte interferon, IFN-alpha AD (Bgl), increased the duration of the effect of the barbiturate. Hybrid IFN-alpha AD (Bgl) also decreased the lethality of acetaminophen. These findings are predictable based on reports of hepatic cytochrome P450 depression resulting from treatment with some interferons.