Abstract

Replication of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and expression of VZV nuclear antigen are inhibited in human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) cells pretreated with recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α for 24 h. This antiviral activity is completely blocked by the addition of monoclonal antibodies against TNF. TNF acts synergistically with interferons α and γ. When TNF is added to HEL cells after VZV adsorption, virus replication is still inhibited. When VZV-infected HEL cells are co-cultured with HEL cells which have been pretreated with TNF or grown in the presence of TNF, spread of VZV from VZV-infected HEL cells to uninfected cells is unaffected. No interferon is detected in the supernatants or cell lysates of HEL cells cultured with TNF and antibodies to α-, β- and γ-interferon have no effect on the antiviral action of TNF.

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