Inhibitory effect of a triterpenoid compound, with or without alpha interferon, on hepatitis C virus infection.
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ABSTRACT: A lack of patient response to alpha interferon (?-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) treatment is a major problem in eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV). We screened chemical libraries for compounds that enhanced cellular responses to ?-IFN and identified a triterpenoid, toosendanin (TSN). Here, we studied the effects and mechanisms of action of TSN on HCV replication and its effect on ?-IFN signaling. We treated HCV genotype 1b replicon-expressing cells and HCV-J6/JFH-infected cells with TSN, with or without ?-IFN, and the level of HCV replication was quantified. To study the effects of TSN on ?-IFN signaling, we detected components of the interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and STAT2 by Western blotting analysis; expression levels of mRNA of interferon regulatory factor 9 using real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR); and interferon-stimulated response element reporter activity and measured the expression levels of interferon-inducible genes for 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, MxA, protein kinase R, and p56 using real-time RT-PCR. TSN alone specifically inhibited expression of the HCV replicon (50% effective concentration = 20.6 nM, 50% cytotoxic concentration > 3 ?M, selectivity index > 146). Pretreatment with TSN prior to ?-IFN treatment was more effective in suppressing HCV replication than treatment with either drug alone. Although TSN alone did not activate the ?-IFN pathway, it significantly enhanced the ?-IFN-induced increase of phosphorylated STATs, interferon-stimulated response element activation, and interferon-stimulated gene expression. TSN significantly increased baseline expression of interferon regulatory factor 9, a component of interferon-stimulated gene factor 3. Antiviral effects of treatment with ?-IFN can be enhanced by pretreatment with TSN. Its mechanisms of action could potentially be important to identify novel molecular targets to treat HCV infection.
SUBMITTER: Watanabe T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3101404 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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