Adenovirus fiber protein produces synthesis of interferon in mouse spleen and macrophage cultures.

An inhibitor of viral activity appears in BALB/c mice spleen cells and macrophage cultures treated with adenovirus 2 fiber protein. This inhibitor was partially characterized and identified as type I interferon. Macrophage cultures produced higher titers of this interferon than did spleen cells. Thus, a purified viral protein with B-cell mitogenic activity induced synthesis of interferon in murine cells.