Membrane alterations following interferon treatment

Gamma interferon-mediated inhibition of Eimeria vermiformis growth in cultured fibroblasts and epithelial cells

The growth of Eimeria vermiformis within cultured murine fibroblastlike (L-929) or rat epithelial-like (RATEC) cells was inhibited by treatment of the cells with the appropriate recombinant gamma interferon. The effect was apparent as a reduction in both the initial numbers of intracellular sporozoites and, to a much greater extent, the numbers of subsequent developmental stages. Pretreatment of the host cells was more effective than treatment in the early postinvasive period, and recombinant gamma interferon had no effect on the development of the parasite if added 24 h or later after the inoculation of sporozoites. Incubation of sporozoites in medium containing recombinant gamma interferon in no way affected their ability to invade or to grow within host cells. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of recombinant gamma interferon on the growth of E. vermiformis are mediated via the host cell and are directed mainly against the transforming sporozoite, although the ability of the sporozoite to invade the host cell was also reduced to some extent. The later developmental stages were refractory to the effects of this lymphokine.

Rat interferon enhances the expression of acetylcholine receptors in rat myotubes in culture

Interferon enhances alpha-bungarotoxin binding on 5-day-old rat myotubes. The increase is time- and dose-dependent. KD for alpha-bungarotoxin remains unchanged in the presence and in the absence of interferon, while the maximum number of binding sites is dramatically affected by interferon. Cycloheximide inhibits the effect of interferon, which suggests that the enhancement of alpha-bungarotoxin binding depends on protein synthesis.