Relationship Between Dose Size and Dose Interval of Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid and Interferon Hyporesponsiveness in Mice

Summary

The degree and duration of hyporeactivity were determined by the interferon response to subsequent doses of poly I-poly C, given at various time intervals after an initial dose. When giving two doses, a small initial dose (25 μg of poly I-poly C) gives rise to a hyporeactive period of early onset (after 12 hr) and short duration (12–24 hr). A large initial dose (200 μg poly I-poly C) gives rise to a hyporeactive period of later onset (after 24 hr) and of longer duration (24–48 hr). The implications of these findings regarding the maintenance of high interferon levels for extended periods are discussed.