Effect of carcinogens and analogs on interferon induction

Pretreatment of mouse embryo fibroblasts with several chemicals, including 7,12-dimethylbenz-(a)-anthracene, 2-aminofluorene, aflatoxin B1, benzo-(a)-pyrene, styrene oxide, and the No. 4 fraction of tobacco smoke condensate, resulted in severely reduced production of interferon when the cells were challenged with Newcastle disease virus. All of the above chemicals are proven or strongly suggested carcinogens. When the analogs methyl methanesulfonate, a potent carcinogen, and ethyl methanesulfonate, a weak carcinogen, were applied to cells, interferon induction was only inhibited by the methyl methanesulfonate. Therefore, carcinogens may directly inhibit the induction of interferon by Newcastle disease virus.