Unexpected correlation in the sensitivity of 19 herpes simplex virus strains to types I and II interferons.

We compared the sensitivity of 19 herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains to type I (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) and type II (IFN-gamma) human interferons in cultures of human retinal epithelial (K-1034) and lung (HEL) cells. Their sensitivities proved to be well correlated, even though type I and type II IFN have been reported to have different antiviral actions. The correlation was not because IFN-gamma stimulated the formation of IFN-beta, for an antibody that neutralized IFN-beta did not reduce its inhibitory effects. Our results show that each HSV strain has a characteristic and similar sensitivity to type I and type II IFN and suggest some common pathway in the mechanism of their antiviral actions.