Effect of interferon on cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in cells.

Treatment of murine and human cells with homologous interferon (IFN) resulted in an elevation of the cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A similar elevation of cAMP levels could be produced by treatment of cells with isoproterenol, prostaglandin or methylxanthine. However, these agents did not produce an antiviral state. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of adenyl cyclase, N-ethylmaleimide, prevented the effect of IFN on cAMP levels, but did not influence tis antiviral activity.