Restricted Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus in Neural Cells

Summary The relationship between the replication of HSV-1 in C6 cells and an interferon-mediated state of viral refractoriness was studied. The cycles of HSV-1 replication in RS and C6 cells reflected the restrictive nature of the HSV-1 C6 interaction and indicated that the restrictive event(s) occurred intracellularly. However, interferon activity could not be demonstrated in the composite of medium mixed with the total intracellular contents from HSV-1 infected C6 cells from 0 through 72 hpi. The lack of a viral refractory state was also reflected in only a slight inhibition at 10 hpi of the replication of poliovirus RNA which was used to superinfect HSV-1 infected C6 cells. Furthermore, the exogenous addition of 5 units/ml of interferon supplied either before or after HSV-1 adsorption as well as 50 units/ml added after virus adsorption failed to affect the production HSV-1 in C6 cells. These observations suggest that interferon is not mediating the restrictive replication of HSV-1 in C6 cells. T. L. Z. is the recipient of an R. J. Thompson fellowship from the American Cancer Society, Florida Division. The technical assistance of Mrs. Linda Johnson is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported in part by a grant from The American Cancer Society, Florida Division, Grant No. F73SF-1.