[Interferon sensitivity of various cell lines]

An economic assay to determine the yield of interferon is necessary for the induction, production and purification of interferon. Using the inhibition of cytopathic effect of vesicular stomatitis virus in a microtitre system, we compared the susceptibility of different cell lines against an internal IFN alpha standard obtained from Sendai virus-induced human leukocytes. Human fibroblasts carrying trisomy G 21 and bovine MDBK cells showed the highest sensitivity followed by normal human fibroblasts. Human RH kidney cells exhibited a susceptibility similar to that of human WISH amnion cells frequently used by others. The human amnion cell line FL and monkey Vero kidney cells, as described here, were unsuitable for the determination of IFN yields.