Interferons suppress nerve growth factor synthesis as a result of interference with cell growth in astrocytes cultured from neonatal mouse brain.

Interferon (IFN)-beta and IFN-gamma inhibited the DNA synthesis and nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in growing astrocytes cultured from neonatal mouse brain, but they did not affect the NGF synthesis in quiescent astrocytes. IFN-beta and IFN-gamma also inhibited the enhanced DNA synthesis and NGF synthesis in growing astrocytes after the administration of basic fibroblast growth factor. These results indicated that NGF synthesis in astrocytes is regulated by IFNs associated with cell growth. The mechanism of IFN action on NGF synthesis/secretion is unknown, but the results that their effects last long after IFN removal from the cultures present the possibility that IFNs destabilize NGF mRNA.