A pilot study of non-cytotoxic, virus-suppressing concentrations of purine and indole derivatives on infected mammalian cells

Non-cytotoxic anti-viral concentrations of the purine derivative aminophylline, as well as of the indole derivative 61-tartrat were investigated in vitro -conditions. At the same time, concentrations of each one of the two analogues, which suppress the viruses, but are still high enough to influence the cells, were determined. Embryonic mammalian embryonic cells from the bovine line EBTr and from the mouse line 3T3, were used. Cell cultures of each one of the two lines were inoculated with mixture of the vaccine avipoxviral strains FK (fowl) and Dessau (pigeon), and sub-populations of them were treated with each one of the two derivatives 24 h after the viral inoculation. The viral cytopathogenic effect together with the cytotoxic and anti-viral influence of different concentrations of each one of the two substances were determined. The values were assessed by taking in consideration the data in control non-inoculated by virus and non-treated control cultures of each one of the two embryonic mammalian cell lines. As a whole, the purine derivative aminophylline showed lower cytotoxicity, but stronger anti-viral effect, on virus-inoculated cells from both embryonic mammalian lines compared with the indole derivative 61-tartrat. A proof in this relation was the determined decrease in the cell viability of the inoculated cells from both types at the 48 − th hour after the treatment compared to the 24 − th hour after it. This result was taken in consideration particularly at the low concentrations of the two derivatives, while at their higher concentrations the decreased viability of cells from both types was probably mainly due to the viral cytopathogenic effect. Non-cytotoxic anti-viral concentrations of each one of the two derivatives, which are high enough to influence the cells of both types, were determined. In this relation, strong analogy between the embryonic mammalian cells with bovine and mouse origin was assessed. These data suggest a possibility about future studies with mouse embryonic cells as proven appropriate experimental in vitro -model analogue to the respective human systems.