Different effect of ouabain on the interferon production and action.

Ouabain, which inhibits specifically membrane-bound ATPase activity, also inhibits the establishment of the antiviral state induced by interferon. Once the antiviral state is established, ouabain is ineffective. This inhibitory effect is reversed by adding Na/K ions to the cells. On the contrary, interferon production is unaffected by the same concentrations of ouabain. It is of interest that in such interferon-yielding cells, ouabain decreases the antiviral state.