• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2000

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and histologic changes of interferon-alfa therapy on chronic hepatitis B virus infection in children. Patients and Methods: Thirty five children aged 3~16 years who were seropositive for HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBeAg were enrolled. Interferon-alfa 2a ($3.4\;MU/m^2$) were given for 6 months. Serologic markers of viral replication was evaluated 1 year after therapy. Post treatment liver biopsy was performed in 18 patients who showed serologic response. Results: Serum HBeAg and viral DNA became negative in 22 (63%) of treated children at 12 months after therapy. Serum aminotransferase levels normalized in all of the responders and HBsAg became negative in one responder. Horizontal transmission, serum aminotransferase levels more than twice normal, and active inflammation on liver biopsy were predictive factors for response to interferon therapy. Periportal piecemeal necrosis, lobular activity, portal inflammation, fibrosis, and total histologic activity index were reduced in responders. Conclusion: In children with chronic hepatitis B, interferon alfa promotes loss of viral replication and improves aminotransferase. Serologic response is associated with improvement in hepatic histology.

• 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.13 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2010

To determine whether long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces RNA interference and type I interferon (IFN) responses in fish, long dsRNAs encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), GFPuv, and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid sequences were co-injected with an EGFP expressing plasmid, into rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). We investigated the EGFP mRNA and protein levels, and the transcriptional responses of dsRNA-dependent protein kinase and Mx1 genes. Long dsRNAs were strong inducers of a type I IFN response in rock bream, resulting in nonspecific suppression of exogenous gene expression. Furthermore, sequence-specific knockdown of exogenous gene expression at the mRNA level was detected at an early phase (24 h). These results suggested that long dsRNA may inhibit exogenous gene expression through an early mRNA interference response and a later type I IFN response in fish.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2021

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors essential to the control of antiviral immune response, cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. IRF10 of zebrafish (Danio rerio) was negative regulation of the interferonΦ1 and 3 response in vitro. In this study, we analyze the induction of in vivo immune response activation from the IRF10 gene of zebrafish and the protective effect against VHSV. As the results, the group inoculated with IRF10 expression vectors, there was no expression of IFNΦ1, suggestion that IRF10 may function as a negative regulator of IRF3, which binds to the IFNΦ1 promoter. And other types of interferon genes (IFNΦ2-4) are thought to have been activated, inducing to the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and Mx genes. As the results of challenge test performed at 14 days after inoculation of the expression vectors, the maximum survival rate [50% (1㎍ DNA) and 42.5% (10㎍ DNA)] for IRF10 group were recorded. Meanwhile, the survival rates of pcDNA3.1 and PBS as the control groups were 10% and 15%, respectively. This study suggests that the possibility that activation of IRF10 molecule could be exploited as a VHS control method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.226-232
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• 2021

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging phlebovirus of the Phenuiviridae family that has been circulating in the following Asian countries: Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea. Despite the increasing infection rates and relatively high mortality rate, there is limited information available regarding SFTSV pathogenesis. In addition, there are currently no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments available. Previous reports have shown that SFTSV suppresses the host immune response and its nonstructural proteins (NSs) function as an antagonist of type I interferon (IFN), whose induction is an essential part of the host defense system against viral infections. Given that SFTSV NSs suppress the innate immune response by inhibiting type I IFN, we investigated the mechanism utilized by SFTSV NSs to evade IFNmediated response. Our co-immunoprecipitation data suggest the interactions between NSs and retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) or TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Furthermore, confocal analysis indicates the ability of NSs to sequester RIG-I and related downstream molecules in the cytoplasmic structures called inclusion bodies (IBs). NSs are also capable of inhibiting TBK1-interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) interaction, and therefore prevent the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 for the induction of type I IFN. The ability of SFTSV NSs to interact with and sequester TBK1 and IRF3 in IBs demonstrate an effective yet unique method utilized by SFTSV to evade and suppress host immunity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2001

Background: The role of the interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), a member of interferon regulatory factor family, in protecting against a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has not been firmly elucidated. Thus, it was investigated utilizing the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells which do not express ICSBP. Methods: HL-60 cells were stably transfected with plasmid containing cDNA for either ICSBP or DNA binding domain (DBD) and tested for their VSV-susceptibilities. The susceptibility of each transfectant group to a VSV infection was determined by a plaque assay at 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-infection in the presence (500 IU/ml) or absence of interferon ${\alpha}$ ($IFN{\alpha}$). Results: In the absence of $IFN{\alpha}$, the three groups showed similar sensitivities to a VSV infection. However, when pre-treated with IFN, the viral titers in both the ICSBP and control clones steadily decreased over 48 h of incubation, indicating the existence of $IFN{\alpha}$-mediated protection against VSV infection. The $IFN{\alpha}$-treated ICSBP clones appeared to be more resistant to infection compared with the control clones, although the difference was not great. On the contrary, the viral titers in the $IFN{\alpha}$-treated DBD clones increased at 24 h then decreased by 48 h. Conclusion: The expression of truncated ICSBP (DBD) does not appear to underlie the impaired protection against a VSV infection in the DBD clones, since even the control clones lacking ICSBP were protected from a VSV infection. This suggests that ICSBP does not play a critical role in the $IFN{\alpha}$- mediated anti-VSV response of HL-60 cells, although it appears to confer some resistance to a VSV infection.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 1994

Macrtophages play an important role in defense against virus infection by intrinsic resistance and by extrinsic resistance. Since interferon-induced enzymes which are 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase and p1/eIF-2 protein kinase have been shown to be involved in the inhibition of viral replication, I examined the mechanism by which poly I:C, an interferon inducer, exerts its antiviral effects in inflammatory macrophages infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The data presented here demonstrate that poly I:C-induced antiviral activity is partially due to the activation of 2'-5' pligoadenylate synthetase. The activation of 2'-5' oligoadenlate A synthetase by poly I:C is also at least mediated via the production of interferon-.betha.. Taken together, these data indicate that interferon-.betha. produced in response to poly I:C acts in an autocrine manner to activate the 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase and to induce resistance to HSV-1.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.256-261
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• 2016

Purpose: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in young children may progress to severe active tuberculosis (TB) disease and serve as a reservoir for future transmission of TB disease. There are limited data on interferon-${\gamma}$ release assay (IGRA) performance in young children, which our research aims to address by investigating the usefulness of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI. Methods: We performed a tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRA on children who were younger than 18 years and were admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital during May 2011-June 2015. Blood samples for IGRA were collected, processed, and interpreted according to manufacturer protocol. Results: Among 149 children, 31 (20.8%) and 10 (6.7%) were diagnosed with LTBI and active pulmonary TB, respectively. In subjects lacking contact history with active TB patients, TST and IGRA results were positive in 41.4% (29 of 70) and 12.9% (9 of 70) subjects, respectively. The agreement (kappa) of TST and IGRA was 0.123. The control group, consisting of non-TB-infected subjects, showed no correlation between age and changes in interferon-${\gamma}$ concentration after nil antigen, TB-specific antigen, or mitogen stimulation in IGRAs (P=0.384, P=0.176, and P=0.077, respectively). In serial IGRAs, interferon-${\gamma}$ response to TB antigen increased in IGRA-positive LTBI subjects, but did not change considerably in initially IGRA-negative LTBI or control subjects. Conclusion: The lack of decrease in interferon-${\gamma}$ response in young children indicates that IGRA could be considered for this age group. Serial IGRA tests might accurately diagnose LTBI in children lacking contact history with active TB patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1037-1040
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• 2015

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of liver, caused by a small enveloped, positive-single stranded RNA virus, called the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV belongs to the Flaviviridae family and has 6 genotypes and more than 100 subtypes. It is estimated that 185 million people are infected with HCV worldwide and 5% of these are in Pakistan. The study was designed to evaluate different genotypes of HCV circulating in District Mardan and to know about the behavior of these genotypes to different anti-viral regimes. In this study 3,800 patients were exposed to interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin treatment for 6-months and subjected to real-time PCR to check the viral response. Among these 3,677 (97%) patients showed no detectable HCV RNA while 123 (3%) patients (non-responders) remained positive for HCV RNA. Genotypes of their analyzed showed that most of them belonged to the 3a genotype. Non-responders (123) and relapsed (5) patients were subjected to PEG-interferon and Ribavirin therapy for next 6 months, which resulted into elimination of HCV RNA from 110 patients. The genotypes of the persisting resistant samples to anti-viral treatment were 3b, 2a, 1a and 1b. Furthermore, viral RNA from 6 patients remained un-typed while 4 patients showed mixed infections. HCV was found more resistant to antiviral therapy in females as compared to mals. The age group 36-45 in both females and males was found most affected by infection. In general 3a is the most prevalent genotype circulating in district Mardan and the best anti-viral therapy is PEG-interferon plus Ribavirin but it is common practice that due to the high cost patients receive interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin with consequent resistance in 3% patients given this treatment regime.