Effect of prostaglandins and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate modulators on herpes simplex virus growth and interferon response in human cells.

Mechanisms whereby prostaglandins and other cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) modulators might enhance the growth of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in human skin fibroblasts were explored. Prostaglandins A1, B1, E1, E2, and F2 alpha, as well as isoproterenol, imidazole, carbamylcholine, and dibutyryl cAMP had no effect on HSV growth. On the other hand, the phosphodiesterase inhibitors 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine and theophylline delayed the growth, suppressed the cell-to-cell spread, but inhibited neither the adsorption nor the penetration of the virus. Although none of the cAMP-elevating reagents directly enhanced HSV growth, they were found to inhibit dose dependently the antiviral action of both type I and HSV antigen-induced human interferon preparations. Furthermore, these reagents suppressed the production of HSV antigen-induced interferon by immune human mononuclear leukocytes. These data support the hypothesis that prostaglandin elaboration in vivo could contribute to exacerbations of HSV infections by compromising the host's interferon defense system.