Inhibition of mouse hepatitis virus type 3 multiplication in activated Kupffer cells.

Mouse Hepatitis Virus type 3 (MHV3) multiplication in isolated murine Kupffer cells was partially inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Supernatants of LPS-treated Kupffer cells contained large amounts of interferon. Inhibition of MHV3 multiplication was also observed when normal Kupffer cells were cultivated in a medium containing supernatants of LPS-treated Kupffer cells. In addition to the antiviral effect of the released interferon, there seems to be another effect of LPS, since Kupffer cells cultured in medium containing anti-interferon alpha beta antibodies were partially activated by LPS to inhibit MHV3 replication. The in vivo consequences of these effects for the local immunity of the liver against MHV3 infection are discussed.