Influence of a carcinogenic agent, 7.12 dimethylbenz (alpha) anthracene (DMBA), on production of interferon alpha/beta in murine and human cells.

Interferon production in mouse and human cells induced by paramyxovirus was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with 7.12 dimethylbenz (alpha) anthracene. The inhibition was moderate but reproducible. It was most pronounced in mouse fibroblast cells, somewhat less in the mouse L-929 cell line and in human embryo fibroblast cells. Addition of the microsomal activator systems was necessary in the human system. A possible employment of this phenomenon in testing carcinogenic potential is discussed.