title: Alpha interferon suppresses hepatitis B virus enhancer activity and reduces viral gene transcription.
abstract: Interferons inhibit replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The mechanism for this inhibition was investigated by analyzing the effect of interferons on transcription of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene under control of HBV regulatory sequences and by determining the steady-state level of viral mRNAs in permanently HBV-transfected HepG2 cells. Low doses (100 U/ml) of alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) but not IFN-gamma inhibited chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in cultured cells transfected with plasmids containing the HBV enhancer linked to either HBV or simian virus 40 promoters. IFN-alpha also lowered expression of HBV mRNA in HBV-transfected HepG2 cells actively replicating virus, suggesting that IFN-alpha inhibits HBV replication by reducing transcription of viral genes driven by the HBV enhancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Jersusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tur-Kaspa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teicher
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laub
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dagan
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shafritz
mesh_terms: D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase