Pathogenesis of Sendasi virus infection in mice. On the possible role of interferon on the development of disease.

Intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected interferon prolonged the survival time of mice inoculated intranasally (i.n.) with Sendai virus and reduced the mortality in mice inoculated i.n. with Haemophilus influenzae. Moderate concentrations of interferon were demonstrated in homogenized lungs of Sendai virus infected mice as long as the virus was present. Similar concentrations could be produced by i.p. injection of Sendai virus or interferon. Alveolar macrophages from mice treated i.p. with interferon or Sendai virus phagocytized more actively than control macropages. From the present and earlier data it is concluded that interferon may have a direct effect on the Sendai virus infection. The total effect of virus pneumonia is a reduction of the lung macrophage antimicrobial activity, and therefore the phagocytosis-modifying effect of interferon produced in the lungs is probably of minor importance for the outcome of the disease.