• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.285-288
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• 2006

Interferon alpha is an immunomodulator that is used as an antiviral agent to treat chronic active viral hepatitis C. However, interferon can induce or exacerbate sarcoidosis. We report a case of 42-year-old man with an exacerbation of pulmonary sarcoidosis after the cessation of interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C. The patient's sarcoidosis improved spontaneously and he continues to be monitored regularly without steroid therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5515-5519
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• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss469415590 in the interferon lambda-4 (IFNL4) gene has recently been reported to have an association with treatment response in chronic hepatitis C. However, any importance of the SNP in association with response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data for Thai patients with CHB treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) for HBeAg-positive CHB was defined as HBeAg seroconversion plus HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks post-treatment. VR for HBeAg-negative CHB was defined as an HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 48 weeks. The SNP was identified by real time PCR using the TaqMan genotyping assay with MGB probes. A total 254 patients (107 HBeAg-positive and 147 HBeAg-negative) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of TT/TT, ${\Delta}G/TT$ and ${\Delta}G/{\Delta}G$ genotypes was 221 (87.0%), 32 (12.6%) and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Patients with non-TT/TT genotypes had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA levels than patients with the TT/TT genotype. In HBeAg-positive CHB, 41.2% of patients with TT/TT genotype versus 50.0% with non-TT/TT genotype achieved VR (P=0.593). In HBeAg-negative CHB, the corresponding figures were 40.3% and 43.5%, respectively (P=0.777). There was no significant correlation between the SNP genotypes and HBsAg clearance in both groups of patients. In summary, ss469415590 genotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN in Thai patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2018

Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is induced by various inflammatory agents, such as lipopolysaccharide and microbial pathogens, including virus and bacteria. In this study, we obtained a full-length cDNA of a STING homolog from olive flounder using rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR technique. The full-length cDNA of Paralichthys olivaceus STING (PoSTING) was 1442 bp in length and contained a 1209-bp open reading frame that translated into 402 amino acids. The theoretical molecular mass of the predicted protein sequence was 45.09 kDa. In the PoSTING protein, three transmembrane domains and the STING superfamily domain were identified as characteristic features. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that PoSTING expressed in all the tissues analyzed, but showed the highest level in the spleen. Temporal expression analysis examined the significantly upregulated expression of PoSTING mRNA after viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) stimulation. In contrast, no significant changes in the PoSTING expression were detected in Edwardsiella tarda-challenged group compared to the un-injected control. The expression of P. olivaceus type I interferon (PoIFN-I) was also highly upregulated upon VHSV challenge. These results suggest that STING might be involved in the essential immune defense against viral infection together with the activation of IFN-I in olive flounder.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2011

The combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. Anti-viral therapy is commonly associated with side effects such as headache, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. However, anti-viral therapy can continue because these side effects are mostly mild and can be improved with supportive management. Anti-viral therapy should be stopped promptly if serious side effects, such as interstitial pneumonitis or hemolytic anemia occur, although those serious side effects are rare. There were a few case reports of interferon-related interstitial pneumonitis worldwide. In Korea, one atypical case report of interstitial pneumonitis has been reported, which followed the combination therapy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. We present a case of interstitial pneumonitis and pancytopenia following the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2018

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection accounts for 20 million annual infections worldwide. HEV can be fatal in approximately 20-30% of pregnant women. HEV infections are normally self-limiting and mostly asymptomatic. However, in patients with insufficient immunity, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients, chronic and often fatal infections may ensue. Therefore, it is likely that host immune responses, especially interferon responses, play a critical role in HEV infection control. Here, we report that an HEV-encoded non-structural protein down-regulates type I interferon response. In addition, some other immune genes involved in the induction of type I interferon may be regulated as well. Detailed molecular mechanisms are currently being studied.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.266-269
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• 1993

The acute toxicity of a recombinant human interferon $\alpha$A (code name: LBD-007) was evaluated in both sexes of ICR mice, 5 weeks old, by the oral, subcutaneous and intravenous routes of administration. Based on the results, LBD-007 was not considered to induce any toxic effect on the mice in mortalities, clinical findigs, body weights and gross findings. It is suggested that LD$_{50}$ values in mice would be $>48{\times}10^8$ IU/kg in the oral, subcutaneous or intravenous routes.s.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 1999

Palmultang(PMT) consists of Ginseng Radix Alba, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Paeoniae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. PMT enhanced the lucigenin chemiluminescence and the engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particles and inhibited the production of nitric oxide in murine peritoneal macrophage. PMT enhanced the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$, interleukin-2 and the cell viability in murine thymocyte, but did not affect the production of interleukin-4. These results indicate that PMT enhances the phagocytosis of macrophage via the stimulation of ${\gamma}-interferon$ production in $T_H1$ cells and the reduction of nitric oxide production in peritoneal macrophage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1873-1881
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• 2019

The innate immune response serves as a first-line-of-defense mechanism for a host against viral infection. Viruses must therefore subvert this anti-viral response in order to establish an efficient life cycle. In line with this fact, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes numerous genes that function as immunomodulatory proteins to antagonize the host immune system. One such mechanism through which KSHV evades the host immunity is by encoding a viral homolog of cellular interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRFs), known as vIRFs. Herein, we summarize recent advances in the study of the immunomodulatory strategies of KSHV vIRFs and their effects on KSHV-associated pathogenesis.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2003

We have investigated the biological effects of recombinant IL-1$\beta$ (rIL-1$\beta$) on the expression of antiviral genes such as Myxovirus-3 (MX-3) and Interferon regulating factor-1 (IRF-1), which are related to type I interferon. When ten micrograms of rIL-1$\beta$ were treated, we observed the stimulatory effect on the expression of these antiviral genes. Interestingly, at the early stage of stimulation, these genes were down-regulated and then up-regulated by the results obtained that the expressions of these genes were decreased at day 1 post-injection and gradually increased at day 3 post-injection. Thus, the stimulatory effect of rIL-1$\beta$ on the expression of MX-3 and IRF-3 gene might be an indirect stimulatory effect because significant up-regulation was delayed until day 3 post-injection.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 1990

The growth behavior of recombinant Escherichia coli cells having plasmid pIF-III-B, which carries human alpha-interferon gene under the control of lpp promoter, lac promoter and lac operator, was studied by using of various E. coli host strains. Expression of the alpha-IFN gene is controllable by using inducer IPTG because the plasmid also contains lacI gene which produces lac regressors. The repressors block the transcription of alpha-IFN gene. There were considerable differences in cell growth according to the host strains used. Cell growth was inhibited not only by plasmid pIF-III-B itself but also by the induction of alph-a-IFN gene expression. Growth inhibition caused by the plasmid itself was more serious than that caused by the induction of alpha-IFN gene expression.