Effects of ouabain on the anticellular and antiviral activities of human and mouse interferon

Abstract

When transformed human embryonic cells, RSa and RSb, were treated for 48 h with both 10(-7) M-ouabain and 1000 units/ml of human leucocyte inteferon, there was an additive suppression of cell growth. In contrast, the antiviral action of the human interferon was inhibited by this concentration of ouabain. Similar effects of combined treatment with interferon and ouabain were found with IFr cells (which are relatively resistant to the anticellular effect of interferon), and with mouse cells of the K3b line.