Interferon induction and action in transformed poikilothermic cells

The production and effect of interferon in the virus-transformed cell line TGk1, originating from kidney cells of Testudo gracea were studied and compared to those in the primary cell culture. West Nile virus and Newcastle disease virus were used as inducers. Interferon production in TGk1 cells began 6 hr later than in the primary cell culture and reached the maximum 64 IU, 18 hr after virus inoculation. In the primary culture, interferon production increased till the 48th hr reaching a fourfold level (256 IU). A significant reduction of the antiviral effect of interferon against vesicular stomatitis virus but not against vaccinia virus was observed in the transformed cells. The decreased interferon production and effect in TGk1 cells is regarded as a consequence of the disturbance of the interferon regulatory mechanism taking place as a result of the virus-induced transformation.