To trigger JAK/STAT signaling cells were stimulated using human IFNa/b or c as well as mouse IFNb. For stimulation of A549 cells or HUVECs 100 U/ml human IFNa or human IFNb was used. For stimulation of the green monkey epithelial cell line Vero or HEK 293 cells 500 U/ml human IFNb was applied. IFNc was always used in the concentration of 500 U/ml. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were incubated with 100 U/ml mouse IFNb. The different IFN were diluted in infection medium. For stimulation after infection, viral supernatants were aspirated and diluted cytokine was incubated for 15 minutes at 37uC. To investigate the potential of other cytokines to induced SOCS-3 gene expression A549 cells were stimulated with 100 U/ml IL1b or 20 ng/ml TNFa at 37uC for times indicated. After stimulation cells were lysed and subjected to immune blotting.