Inhibition of interferon-alpha/beta induction by crystalline cadmium sulfide

The induction of interferon-alpha/beta by Newcastle disease virus in L-929 cells was inhibited by pretreatment of the cell cultures with the crystalline form of cadmium sulfide. As little as 10 micrograms/ml of crystalline cadmium sulfide was sufficient to inhibit the induction of interferon. Cell viability was not affected by this treatment as measured by trypan blue dye-exclusion viability staining. Between 6 and 24 hr of preincubation with crystalline cadmium sulfide was required for significant inhibition of interferon induction.