[New mechanisms of antimutagenic effect of interferon]

A study was made of the antimutagenic effect of natural lymphoblastoid interferon and alpha 2-recombinant interferon against initial damages to DNA induced by 8-methoxypsoralen, activated by UV-light, in human peripheral blood. The crosslinking and uncrosslinking 8-methoxypsoralen monoadducts were shown to make different contribution to the biological effects in cells, that is, chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges. Both of the investigated interferons exhibited their protective effect with respect to crosslinking monoadducts only. The antimutagenic action of interferon was implemented by a non-repair way. It is suggested that the scavenging of active radicals is a possible mechanism of the protective action of interferon.