Abstract
IN spite of various theories, the mechanism of the antiviral action of interferon1–3 remains obscure. Previous work indicated that it does not have to penetrate into target cells to exert its effect. Mouse interferon preparations, when covalently bound to Sepharose beads, retained full antiviral activity, even after multiple cell-to-cell transfers4. Physical restriction of Sepharose-bound interferon to a well defined area on the cell monolayer protected only cells in immediate contact with the insoluble interferon preparation, but not those unable to make such contacts. This excluded the possibility that soluble interferon diffused from the Sepharose beads to which it was attached5. If indeed interferon induces its antiviral effect by interaction with the cell surface, interferon-sensitive cells should possess specific receptor sites. We report here the inhibitory action of certain plant lectins on the action of interferon.
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BESANCON, F., ANKEL, H. Inhibition of interferon action by plant lectins. Nature 250, 784–786 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250784a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250784a0
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