Studies of human Interferon a, beta and y activities on different cell cultures against rubella virus

Human interferon (IFN) has complex effects but probably the main antiviral action is to reduce the translation of viral mRNA. IFNs induces the antiviral state of the cell when they bind to specific receptor. In our study, showed that at least two functional IFN receptors on human cells. IFN a and [3 bind to one type of receptor, whereas IFN y bind to another. Natural cell culture (HAC) which was used in the present study containing both receptors to IFN a, (3 and y while MRC-5 which treated with some chemicals to be diploid cells lost the receptors IFN y. HeLa cells on the other hand which is malignant cells lost both receptors on the other hand all types of interferon are non toxic at concentration up to 1000 unit/ml to all types of tissue culture involved in this study, while all types of interferon inhibit rubella virus growth at concentration of (2.5 unit/ ml) and by use of therapeutic index (TI) which is the ratio of the dose of interferon which is just toxic to the dose which is just effective. If this index is one or les it is not possible to use in man, if this index is larger than the margin of study is great. The (TI) of interferon against rubella virus was more than 500, therefore interferon if used in such concentration ( around 5 unit /ml) in human have no side effect.