Susceptibility of various cells treated with interferon to the toxic effect of poly(rI).poly(rC) treatment

Various cells were treated with interferon and then exposed to polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid complex [poly(rI).poly(rC)]. With mouse L cells, there was a marked cytotoxic effect from low doses of interferon and poly(rI.poly(rC), whereas chick embryo cells showed an effect only after high doses. When primate cells (LLC.Mk2,BSC.B, Vero and human embryo cells) were treated with human or monkey interferon, poly(rI).poly(rC) was not cytotoxic.