Impaired interferon induction of human MxA protein in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
MxA protein is interferon inducible, and its role as an antiviral mediator is being studied in various viral diseases. Several cytokines, including type 1 interferons (alpha and beta), interleukins 2 and 12, and granulocyte, macrophage, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors, were tested for their ability to induce human MxA protein synthesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 15 chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients and 6 healthy subjects as controls. Constitutive MxA expression was scarce in patients and controls but increased significantly in response to type I interferons. MxA responsiveness to interferon alpha was diminished significantly in chronic hepatitis B patients, compared with healthy donors (P < 0.05); this effect was more marked in patients with high viremia levels. Interleukins 2 and 12, and none of the colony-stimulating factors tested, induced low, but detectable, MxA protein levels. These results indicate that chronic infection by hepatitis B virus may impair activation of the immune cells and their capacity to respond to type 1 interferons.
Fernández
M
M
Department of Hepatology, Fundación Jiménez Diaz, Madrid, Spain.
Quiroga
J A
JA
Martín
J
J
Cotonat
T
T
Pardo
M
M
Horisberger
M A
MA
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins