Prostaglandins of the A series inhibit Sendai virus replication in cultured cells.

Prostaglandins of the A series (PGA) were shown to be potent inhibitors of Sendai virus replication in African green monkey kidney cells in culture. This antiviral activity was specific for PGA. The effective dose (4 micrograms/ml) was not toxic to the cells and did not alter either host cell metabolism of infectivity of the virus. PGA did not affect the first stages of virus replication and seemed to act by inhibiting virus maturation and/or budding from the cells. The antiviral action of PGA was pharmacological, was not mediated by cAMP and was completely reversible. Possible mechanisms of action include post-translational binding to virus proteins or interaction with interferon.