Inhibition of multiplication of parainfluenza 3 virus in prostaglandin-treated WISH cells.

Influence of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and F2alpha (PGF 2alpha) on multiplication of myxovirus parainfluenza 3 was investigated. At concentrations of 0.01--1 mug/ml prostaglandins had no direct cytotoxic effects. PGE2 and PGF2alpha inhibited multiplication of parainfluenza 3 virus at concentrations 0.1--10 mug/ml. The inhibitory effect was most pronounced when the prostaglandins were added to medium for the whole period of virus multiplication (48 hours) while little or no effect was found when prostaglandins were added before virus inoculation or for 2 hours after infection. It is suggested that prostaglandins exert an inhibitory effect on the replication phase of the virus by influencing the growth of the WISH cells.