Influenza A virus replication is inhibited by tumor necrosis factor-alpha in vitro.

Treatment of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with > or = 10 ng/ml of recombinant murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rmTNF-alpha) prior to inoculation with influenza A/PR/8/34, (H1N1), resulted in decreased production of infectious virus as determined by plaque assay, inhibition of viral protein synthesis and a reduction in cytopathic effect. The inhibition of viral replication in vitro suggests a role for TNF-alpha in the host's defense against influenza A virus infections.