ALPHA BETA INTERFERONS INCREASE HOST-RESISTANCE TO MURINE AIDS/

Murine AIDS (MAIDS) is caused by a defective retrovirus present in the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus mixture, Strains of inbred mice differ i n resistance to MAIDS development; some are susceptible (e.g., C57BL/6 ), while others are resistant (e.g., CBA and B10.BR), As an early bloc k to viral replication in resistant mice has been demonstrated previou sly by PCR studies, we postulated that alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alp ha/beta) may be involved in resistance to MAIDS, Susceptible C57BL/6 m ice infected with LP-BM5 were treated with IFN-alpha/beta or Newcastle disease virus, Newcastle disease virus induces high endogenous IFN-al pha/beta production in mice, Both treatments delayed the development o f MAIDS, as assessed by splenomegaly and T- and B-cell proliferation, In addition, an IFN-alpha/beta response was detected by reverse transc ription-PCR and dot blotting 3, 6, and 9 h after LP-BM5 infection in r esistant mice but not in susceptible mice, These results suggest that the ability to produce IFN-alpha/beta in response to LP-BM5 infection may contribute to host resistance to MAIDS.