title: [Influence of miR-122 on IFN-α treatment for HCV infection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of miR-122 on IFN-α treatment for HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Huh7.5.1 cells infected with HCV were treated with miR-122 mimics (20 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L, 400 nmol/L) and/or IFN-α (1000 IU/ml). The relative expression of HCV RNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Huh7.5.1 cells were treated with different amounts of HCV (107 copies, 106 copies and 105 copies) and/or IFN-α (1000 IU/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-α suppressed the replication of HCV in a time-dependent manner, resulting in a ≊ 83% reduction of HCV at 48 h. MiR-122 mimics facilitated replication of HCV RNA in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The antiviral effect of IFN-α was inverted to levels of miR-122 mimics (20 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L, 400 nmol/L), (73.3% ± 3.5% compared with 84% ± 4.5%, P>0.05; 64.67% ± 5.5% compared with 84% ± 4.5%, P>0.05; 56.33% ± 5.1% compared with 84% ± 4.5%, P<0.05). The antiviral effect of IFN-α was inverted to HCV load (105 copies group compared with 107 copies group, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MiR-122 facilitates replication of HCV RNA in the cell culture system; and the expression of miR-122 may partly counteract the anti-HCV effect of IFN-α.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Su-juan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hai-hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral