title: Influence of interferon-alpha and ribavirin on the transcription of interferon-gamma and IFN-gamma receptor genes in Jurkat cells.
abstract: Interferon-alpha and ribavirin are currently the only drugs registered in the chronic hepatitis C therapy. Their actions are based on both direct antiviral activities, and their influence on genes expressions. In the presented study, using Jurkat cell line as an in vitro model for interferon-gamma synthesis, influence of interferon-alpha and ribavirin on the expressions of IFN-gamma and its receptor subunits (IFNgR1 and IFNgR2) were studied. Expressions of the studied genes were measured at the transcriptional level using Real-Time RT-PCR method. Results indicate that both drugs, IFN-alpha and ribavirin, induced changes in IFN-gamma and its receptor expressions. While IFN-alpha stimulated the expressions of the studied genes (IFN- gamma, IFNgR1, and IFNgR2), ribavirin showed the contradictory influence. The inhibitory effect of ribavirin dominated IFN-alpha action and was responsible for the decrease in the mRNA levels of IFN-gamma and the receptor of IFN-gamma. This phenomenon observed at in vitro model may be responsible for the IFN-gamma decrease during hepatitis C therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin which was suggested by some authors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland. dsypniewski@sum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sypniewski
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gałka
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Loch
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machnik
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D012254:Ribavirin; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor