Choline and halogen derivatives of CMA (9-oxo-10-acridine acetic acids) as tools for monitoring the interaction of the interferon inducers via a specific receptor.

New choline and halogen derivatives of CMA (9-oxo-10-acridine acetic acid) were investigated as interferon (IFN) inducers in mice and in the mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage cultures. Two of the choline derivatives, DMCMA and CSCMA, were active IFN inducers presumably because they were hydrolyzed so as to release CMA. The halogen analogues of CMA were inactive or weak IFN inducers in vivo and in vitro. On the contrary, the Br and I derivatives of CMA were potent inhibitors of IFN induction by CMA in vitro. The behavior of the agonists and antagonists of CMA suggests that the induction of interferon may occur indirectly via a specific CMA-receptor complex.