Synthesis of herpes simplex virus proteins and nucleic acids in interferon-treated macrophages

Mouse macrophages grown from spleen cells were found to be very sensitive to the interferon (IFN) activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Therefore we have used these cells to investigate the level at which IFN blocks the replication of HSV-1. IFN treatment resulted in a strong inhibition of the induction of HSV DNA polymerase and other β proteins. RNA hybridization experiments revealed that the amount of mRNA for the β protein thymidine kinase was strongly reduced in IFN treated HSV-1 infected cells. Analysis of the effect of IFN on expression of the α genes indicated a strong inhibition of α protein synthesis. In contrast the synthesis of mRNA of the α protein ICP 4 was only moderately inhibited. The results indicate that IFN primarily acts on the translation of HSV α proteins.