The production and effect of interferon on influenza virus growth in chick embryo lung epithelial and fibroblast cell cultures.

Abstract

Cultures of fibroblastic cells prepared from chick embryo lung infected with low multiplicities of influenza type A virus strains were found to produce more interferon than did cultures of epithelial cells prepared from the same organ. Fibroblastic cell cultures were also found to be more sensitive to the action of interferon than were epithelial cells with respect to the levels of infectious virus produced and the duration of interferon action. Cultures of the two cell types treated with interferon did not differ with respect to the number of cells involved in virus synthesis.