IFN-λ Inhibits Drug-Resistant HIV Infection of Macrophages.
Type III interferons (IFN-λs) have been demonstrated to inhibit a number of viruses, including HIV. Here, we further examined the anti-HIV effect of IFN-λs in macrophages. We found that IFN-λs synergistically enhanced anti-HIV activity of antiretrovirals [azidothymidine (AZT), efavirenz, indinavir, and enfuvirtide] in infected macrophages. Importantly, IFN-λs could suppress HIV infection of macrophages with the drug-resistant strains, including AZT-resistant virus (A012) and reverse transcriptase inhibitor-resistant virus (TC49). Mechanistically, IFN-λs were able to induce the expression of several important anti-HIV cellular factors, including myxovirus resistance 2 (Mx2), a newly identified HIV post-entry inhibitor and tetherin, a restriction factor that blocks HIV release from infected cells. These observations provide additional evidence to support the potential use of IFN-λs as therapeutics agents for the treatment of HIV infection.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Xu
X
Wang
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
He
H
Wang
Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control , Wuhan , China.
Man-Qing
MQ
Liu
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Jie-Liang
JL
Li
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Run-Hong
RH
Zhou
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Yu
Y
Zhou
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Yi-Zhong
YZ
Wang
Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control , Wuhan , China.
Wang
W
Zhou
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.
Wen-Zhe
WZ
Ho
IFN-λ; Mx2; antiretrovirals; drug-resistant HIV; tetherin