The in Vitro and in Vivo Effects of Cortisol on Interferon Production and Action

Abstract

Using the plaque reduction assay for interferon, it was found that cortisol inhibited inter feron production in infections with either an RNA (Chikungunya) or a DNA (vaccinia) virus in vitro. The depression of interferon production was not associated with an increased rate of virus replication. There was no effect of cortisol on the anti-viral activity of interferon in vitro. In vivo, the injection of cortisol 1 hr before an experimental viremia significantly reduced the amount of interferon in the sera of mice 4.5 to 6 hr after infection.