Inhibition of virus replication and induction of human tetherin gene expression by equine IFN-α1.
Abstract: Type I interferons (IFNs) play important roles in the defense of host cells against viral infection by inducing the expression of a diverse range of antiviral factors. IFNs from different animals likely share similar features with human IFNs, and some of them have cross-species activities. Equine IFN-α was proved effective in both equine and human cells. However, the previous studies mostly focused on the inhibition of virus induced cytopathic effects. In this study, we used virus-specific assays to demonstrate the antiviral activities of equine IFN-α1 in both equine and human cells. Equine IFN-α1 inhibited the expression of viral structural proteins and the production of virions of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) in equine cells. In addition, equine IFN-α1 inhibited the production of EIAV virus-like particles (VLP) from human 293T cells. An IFN-inducible human gene, tetherin, was induced in 293T cells by equine IFN-α1. Its induction correlated with the inhibition of VLP release from the cell membrane. This result indicates that equine IFN-α1 shares a similar mechanism of action with human IFN-α in regulating antiviral genes expression in human cells.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-09-20 PubMed ID: 24144682DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2013.09.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article focuses on how equine IFN-α1, a type I interferon found in horses, can inhibit the replication of certain viruses and induce the expression of the antiviral human gene called tetherin in both horse and human cells.
Research Objective
- The paper aims to expand on previous studies that mostly investigated the inhibition of virus-induced cytopathic effects by equine IFN-α1. It does so by using virus-specific assays to demonstrate the antiviral activities of this substance in equine and human cells.
Key Findings
- The study found that equine IFN-α1 could inhibit the expression of viral structural proteins and the production of virions of the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) in equine cells.
- Moreover, equine IFN-α1 was also found to inhibit the production of EIAV virus-like particles (VLP) from human 293T cells.
Role of Equine IFN-α1 in Human Cells
- The research discovered that an IFN-inducible human gene, tetherin, could be induced in 293T cells by equine IFN-α1. Tetherin’s function is to restrict the release of many enveloped viruses, thereby demonstrating an antiviral effect.
- The induction of tetherin in the human cells due to equine IFN-α1 correlated with the inhibition of VLP release from the cell membrane. This means that the gene’s activation directly impacted the hindrance of virus replication.
Implications
- The study indicates that equine IFN-α1 shares a similar mechanism of action with human IFN-α in terms of regulating antiviral gene expression in human cells.
- This could potentially open new avenues in the development of antiviral treatments, utilizing the cross-species activity of equine IFN-α1.
Cite This Article
APA
Hu Z, Wu X, Ge J, Wang X.
(2013).
Inhibition of virus replication and induction of human tetherin gene expression by equine IFN-α1.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 156(1-2), 107-113.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2013.09.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, PR China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antigens, CD / genetics
- Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
- GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
- HEK293 Cells
- Horses / immunology
- Humans
- Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
- Virus Replication / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Schimmich C, Vabret A, Zientara S, Valle-Casuso JC. Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Cellular Partners Along the Viral Cycle. Viruses 2024 Dec 24;17(1).
- Chen K, Zhou B, Wang X, Yang G, Lin Y, Wang X, Du C, Wang X. Equine lentivirus Gag protein degrades mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein via the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1. J Virol 2025 Jan 31;99(1):e0169124.
- de Pablo-Maiso L, Doménech A, Echeverría I, Gómez-Arrebola C, de Andrés D, Rosati S, Gómez-Lucia E, Reina R. Prospects in Innate Immune Responses as Potential Control Strategies against Non-Primate Lentiviruses. Viruses 2018 Aug 17;10(8).
- Mahauad-Fernandez WD, Okeoma CM. The role of BST-2/Tetherin in host protection and disease manifestation. Immun Inflamm Dis 2016 Mar;4(1):4-23.
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