Ruxolitinib accelerates influenza A virus adaptation in the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line

To investigate the effect of ruxolitinib medium supplement, separately and in combination with trypsin, on influenza A virus (IAV) adaptation and propagation in the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line.

Two consecutive passages of three egg-based IAV strains were performed in the MDCK cell line with medium (a) without additives; (b) with a combination of ruxolitinib and trypsin; (c) with ruxolitinib; and (d) trypsin. Adaptation without a medium additive failed in both passages. After a single passage, the probability of the IAV adaptation was highly significantly influenced by the type of additive (binomial generalized linear model, χ22 = 23.84, P < 0.00001). The highest probability of adaptation was achieved with the combination of ruxolitinib and trypsin, followed by ruxolitinib alone and trypsin. After the two consecutive passages, the influence of the type of medium additive on the probability of virus adaptation was no longer significant. In two of three IAV MDCK-adapted strains, the type of medium additive had no significant influence on virus yields.

Ruxolitinib accelerates the adaptation of IAV in the MDCK cell line both individually and together with trypsin.