title: Antiviral potential of interferon-omega on hepatitis B virus replication in human hepatoma cells.
abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and other cytokines are able to interfere with hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. However, a sustained antiviral effect is achieved only in 25% to 40% of the patients with chronic HBV infection and clearance of the virus rarely occurs, stressing the need for developing therapeutic alternatives. In this study the antiviral potential of a new recombinant interferon, IFN-omega was investigated. IFN-omega was assessed in comparison with IFN-alpha 2c, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha with respect to production of HBV proteins and DNA in HepG2.2.15 cells, a HBV-DNA transfected hepatoma cell line which produces infectious viral particles. Cells were seeded at different states of confluence (20%-90%) and treated with increasing concentrations of interferons (5 to 5,000 U/ml), TNF-alpha (5 to 500 ng/ml), or combinations of both for one to three days. IFN-omega reduced the production of HBsAg down to 59% of the untreated controls, which was comparable to the reduction obtained by treatment with IFN-alpha (60%), the standard interferon used for the treatment of chronic HBV infections. The strongest inhibition, however, was achieved by treatment with 500 ng/ml TNF-alpha (42%). Likewise, production of HBeAg and synthesis of HBV DNA were inhibited to similar degrees by the different interferons. In non-replicating high-density cultures only TNF-alpha was effective. IFN-omega is of similar antiviral potential as IFN-alpha in this in vitro experimental system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagelstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kist
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stremmel
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Galle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014764:Viral Proteins; C063743:interferon omega 1