The relationship between prostaglandins and virus replication: Endogenous prostaglandin synthesis during infection and the effect of exogenous PGA on virus production in different cell lines and in persistently infected cells

Abstract African Green Monkey Kidney cells were shown to normally synthesize immunoreactive PGE 1 . Infection of these cells with Sendai virus did not alter rates of PGE 1 synthesis, while it stimulated interferon production. PGAs, that we have previously shown to be potent inhibitors of Sendai virus replication in this system, at the same dose (4 μg/ml), also strongly inhibited the replication of this virus in HEp-2 cells and in VERO cells, a monkey kidney cell line that does not produce interferon. PGA 1 was found to be effective in several cell and virus models, suggesting a broad spectrum of antiviral actions. Finally, we confirmed the observation that PGA 1 -treatment prevents the establishment of a “carrier state” by Sendai virus, and PGA 1 -cured cells did not show any sign of persistent infection for periods as long as 110 days after Sendai function. Attempts to cure already established persistently infected cells were only partially successful.