title: Secreted Interferon-Inducible Factors Restrict Hepatitis B and C Virus Entry In Vitro.
abstract: Interferon-α(IFN-α) has been used for more than 20 years as the first-line therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, because it has a number of antiviral effects. In this study, we describe a novel mode of its antiviral action. We demonstrate that the supernatant from IFN-α-treated cultured cells restricted HBV and HCV infection by inhibiting viral entry into hepatoma cells. The factors contained in the supernatant competed with the virus for binding to heparan glycosaminoglycans-the nonspecific attachment step shared by HBV and HCV. Secreted factors of high molecular mass that bind to heparin columns elicited the antiviral effect. In conclusion, IFN-αis able to induce soluble factors that can bind to heparan glycosaminoglycans thus leading to the inhibition of viral binding.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Yuchen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8460-3893
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Blossey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wisskirchen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Protzer
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D053585:Virus Attachment / Q000187:drug effects; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D016898:Interferon-alpha