A Recombinant Adenovirus Expressing Ovine Interferon Tau Prevents Influenza Virus-Induced Lethality in Mice

Ovine interferon tau (IFN-τ) is a unique type I interferon with low toxicity and a broad host rangein vivo. We report the generation of a nonreplicative recombinant adenovirus expressing biologically active IFN-τ. Using the B6.A2G-Mx1 mouse model, we showed that single-dose intranasal administration of recombinant Ad5-IFN-τ can effectively prevent lethality and disease induced by highly virulent hv-PR8 influenza virus by activating the interferon response and preventing viral replication.

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PLASMACYTOID DENDRITIC CELLS FUNCTION IN HIV INFECTION

Clinical & Investigative Medicine ◽

10.25011/cim.v31i4.4808 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Martin Hyrcza ◽

Mario Ostrowski ◽

Sandy Der

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cells ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Gene Transcription ◽

Sendai Virus ◽

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells ◽

Type I Interferons ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Type I Ifn

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are innate immune cells able to produce large quantities of type I interferons (IFN) when activated. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients show generalized immune dysfunction characterized in part by chronic interferon response. In this study we investigated the role of dendritic cells inactivating and maintaining this response. Specifically we compared the IFN geneactivity in pDCs in response to several viruses and TLR agonists. We hypothesized that 1) the pattern of IFN gene transcription would differ in pDCs treated with HIV than with other agents, and 2) that pDCs from patients from different stages of disease would respond differently to the stimulations. To test these hypotheses, we obtained pDCs from 15 HIV-infected and uninfected individuals and treated freshly isolated pDCs with either HIV (BAL strain), influenza virus (A/PR/8/34), Sendai virus (Cantell strain), TLR7 agonist(imiquimod), or TLR9 agonist (CpG-ODN) for 6h. Type I IFN gene transcription was monitored by real time qPCRfor IFNA1, A2, A5, A6, A8,A17, B1, and E1, and cytokine levels were assayed by Cytometric Bead Arrays forTNF?, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL1?, and IL12p70. pDC function as determined by these two assays showed no difference between HIV-infected and uninfected patients or between patients with early or chronic infection. Specifically, HIV did notinduce type I IFN gene expression, whereas influenza virus, Sendai virus and imiquimod did. Similarly, HIV failed to induce any cytokine release from pDCs in contrast to influenza virus, Sendai virus and imiquimod, which stimulatedrelease of TNF?, IL6, or IL8. Together these results suggest that the reaction of pDCs to HIV virus is quantitatively different from the response to agents such as virus, Sendai virus, and imiquimod. In addition, pDCs from HIV-infected persons have responses similar to pDCs from uninfected donors, suggesting, that the DC function may not be affected by HIV infection.

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Canine Influenza Virus is Mildly Restricted by Canine Tetherin Protein

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v10100565 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 565

Author(s):

Yun Zheng ◽

Xiangqi Hao ◽

Qingxu Zheng ◽

Xi Lin ◽

Xin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

Transmembrane Protein ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Canine Influenza Virus ◽

Immune Factor ◽

Canine Influenza ◽

The Impact

Tetherin (BST2/CD317/HM1.24) has emerged as a key host-cell ·defence molecule that acts by inhibiting the release and spread of diverse enveloped virions from infected cells. We analysed the biological features of canine tetherin and found it to be an unstable hydrophilic type I transmembrane protein with one transmembrane domain, no signal peptide, and multiple glycosylation and phosphorylation sites. Furthermore, the tissue expression profile of canine tetherin revealed that it was particularly abundant in immune organs. The canine tetherin gene contains an interferon response element sequence that can be regulated and expressed by canine IFN-α. A CCK-8 assay showed that canine tetherin was effective in helping mitigate cellular damage caused by canine influenza virus (CIV) infection. Additionally, we found that the overexpression of canine tetherin inhibited replication of the CIV and that interference with the canine tetherin gene enhanced CIV replication in cells. The impact of canine tetherin on CIV replication was mild. However, these results elucidate the role of the innate immune factor, canine tetherin, during CIV infection for the first time.

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Development of Small-Molecule STING Activators for Cancer Immunotherapy

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines10010033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Hee Ra Jung ◽

Seongman Jo ◽

Min Jae Jeon ◽

Hyelim Lee ◽

Yeonjeong Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Immunotherapy ◽

Cyclic Gmp ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Cancer Agent ◽

Sting Pathway

In cancer immunotherapy, the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is an attractive target for switching the tumor immunophenotype from ‘cold’ to ‘hot’ through the activation of the type I interferon response. To develop a new chemical entity for STING activator to improve cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP)-induced innate immune response, we identified KAS-08 via the structural modification of DW2282, which was previously reported as an anti-cancer agent with an unknown mechanism. Further investigation revealed that direct STING binding or the enhanced phosphorylation of STING and downstream effectors were responsible for DW2282-or KAS-08-mediated STING activity. Furthermore, KAS-08 was validated as an effective STING pathway activator in vitro and in vivo. The synergistic effect of cGAMP-mediated immunity and efficient anti-cancer effects successfully demonstrated the therapeutic potential of KAS-08 for combination therapy in cancer treatment.

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Knockout of IRF7 Highlights its Modulator Function of Host Response Against Avian Influenza Virus and the Involvement of MAPK and TOR Signaling Pathways in Chicken

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11040385 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 385

Author(s):

Tae Hyun Kim ◽

Colin Kern ◽

Huaijun Zhou

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Avian Influenza Virus ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Host Response ◽

Antiviral Response ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I

Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) is known as the master transcription factor of the type I interferon response in mammalian species along with IRF3. Yet birds only have IRF7, while they are missing IRF3, with a smaller repertoire of immune-related genes, which leads to a distinctive immune response in chickens compared to in mammals. In order to understand the functional role of IRF7 in the regulation of the antiviral response against avian influenza virus in chickens, we generated IRF7-/- chicken embryonic fibroblast (DF-1) cell lines and respective controls (IRF7wt) by utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) system. IRF7 knockout resulted in increased viral titers of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Further RNA-sequencing performed on H6N2-infected IRF7-/- and IRF7wt cell lines revealed that the deletion of IRF7 resulted in the significant down-regulation of antiviral effectors and the differential expression of genes in the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathways. Dynamic gene expression profiling of the host response between the wildtype and IRF7 knockout revealed potential signaling pathways involving AP1 (activator protein 1), NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) and inflammatory cytokines that may complement chicken IRF7. Our findings in this study provide novel insights that have not been reported previously, and lay a solid foundation for enhancing our understanding of the host antiviral response against the avian influenza virus in chickens.

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Sequence-Specific Modifications Enhance the Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Response Activated by RIG-I Agonists

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00845-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (15) ◽

pp. 8011-8025 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Cindy Chiang ◽

Vladimir Beljanski ◽

Kevin Yin ◽

David Olagnier ◽

Fethia Ben Yebdri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Rna Viruses ◽

Rna Virus ◽

A549 Cells ◽

Antiviral Response ◽

Interferon Response

ABSTRACTThe cytosolic RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene I) receptor plays a pivotal role in the initiation of the immune response against RNA virus infection by recognizing short 5′-triphosphate (5′ppp)-containing viral RNA and activating the host antiviral innate response. In the present study, we generated novel 5′ppp RIG-I agonists of varieous lengths, structures, and sequences and evaluated the generation of the antiviral and inflammatory responses in human epithelial A549 cells, human innate immune primary cells, and murine models of influenza and chikungunya viral pathogenesis. A 99-nucleotide, uridine-rich hairpin 5′pppRNA termed M8 stimulated an extensive and robust interferon response compared to other modified 5′pppRNA structures, RIG-I aptamers, or poly(I·C). Interestingly, manipulation of the primary RNA sequence alone was sufficient to modulate antiviral activity and inflammatory response, in a manner dependent exclusively on RIG-I and independent of MDA5 and TLR3. Both prophylactic and therapeutic administration of M8 effectively inhibited influenza virus and dengue virus replicationin vitro. Furthermore, multiple strains of influenza virus that were resistant to oseltamivir, an FDA-approved therapeutic treatment for influenza, were highly sensitive to inhibition by M8. Finally, prophylactic M8 treatmentin vivoprolonged survival and reduced lung viral titers of mice challenged with influenza virus, as well as reducing chikungunya virus-associated foot swelling and viral load. Altogether, these results demonstrate that 5′pppRNA can be rationally designed to achieve a maximal RIG-I-mediated protective antiviral response against human-pathogenic RNA viruses.IMPORTANCEThe development of novel therapeutics to treat human-pathogenic RNA viral infections is an important goal to reduce spread of infection and to improve human health and safety. This study investigated the design of an RNA agonist with enhanced antiviral and inflammatory properties against influenza, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. A novel, sequence-dependent, uridine-rich RIG-I agonist generated a protective antiviral responsein vitroandin vivoand was effective at concentrations 100-fold lower than prototype sequences or other RNA agonists, highlighting the robust activity and potential clinical use of the 5′pppRNA against RNA virus infection. Altogether, the results identify a novel, sequence-specific RIG-I agonist as an attractive therapeutic candidate for the treatment of a broad range of RNA viruses, a pressing issue in which a need for new and more effective options persists.

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Interferon Regulatory Factor IRF-7 Induces the Antiviral Alpha Interferon Response and Protects against Lethal West Nile Virus Infection

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00918-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 82 (17) ◽

pp. 8465-8475 ◽

Cited By ~ 114

Author(s):

Stephane Daffis ◽

Melanie A. Samuel ◽

Mehul S. Suthar ◽

Brian C. Keller ◽

Michael Gale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

Cortical Neurons ◽

Interferon Regulatory Factor ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Type I Ifn ◽

Regulatory Factor ◽

West Nile

ABSTRACT Type I interferon (IFN-α/β) comprises a family of immunomodulatory cytokines that are critical for controlling viral infections. In cell culture, many RNA viruses trigger IFN responses through the binding of RNA recognition molecules (RIG-I, MDA5, and TLR-3) and induction of interferon regulatory factor IRF-3-dependent gene transcription. Recent studies with West Nile virus (WNV) have shown that type I IFN is essential for restricting infection and that a deficiency of IRF-3 results in enhanced lethality. However, IRF-3 was not required for optimal systemic IFN production in vivo or in vitro in macrophages. To begin to define the transcriptional factors that regulate type I IFN after WNV infection, we evaluated IFN induction and virus control in IRF-7−/− mice. Compared to congenic wild-type mice, IRF-7−/− mice showed increased lethality after WNV infection and developed early and elevated WNV burdens in both peripheral and central nervous system tissues. As a correlate, a deficiency of IRF-7 blunted the systemic type I IFN response in mice. Consistent with this, IFN-α gene expression and protein production were reduced and viral titers were increased in IRF-7−/− primary macrophages, fibroblasts, dendritic cells, and cortical neurons. In contrast, in these cells the IFN-β response remained largely intact. Our data suggest that the early protective IFN-α response against WNV occurs through an IRF-7-dependent transcriptional signal.

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CX-5461 Treatment Leads to Cytosolic DNA-Mediated STING Activation in Ovarian Cancer

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13205056 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (20) ◽

pp. 5056

Author(s):

Robert Cornelison ◽

Kuntal Biswas ◽

Danielle C. Llaneza ◽

Alexandra R. Harris ◽

Nisha G. Sosale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Time Frame ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Pol I ◽

Downstream Effects ◽

Immune Pathway ◽

Polymerase I

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest of the gynecologic malignancies, with an overall survival rate of <30%. Recent research has suggested that targeting RNA polymerase I (POL I) with small-molecule inhibitors may be a viable therapeutic approach to combating EOC, even when chemoresistance is present. CX-5461 is one of the most promising POL I inhibitors currently being investigated, and previous reports have shown that CX-5461 treatment induces DNA damage response (DDR) through ATM/ATR kinase. Investigation into downstream effects of CX-5461 led us to uncovering a previously unreported phenotype. Treatment with CX-5461 induces a rapid accumulation of cytosolic DNA. This accumulation leads to transcriptional upregulation of ‘STimulator of Interferon Genes’ (STING) in the same time frame, phosphorylation of IRF3, and activation of type I interferon response both in vitro and in vivo. This activation is mediated and dependent on cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS). Here, we show THAT CX-5461 leads to an accumulation of cytosolic dsDNA and thereby activates the cGAS–STING–TBK1–IRF3 innate immune pathway, which induces type I IFN. CX-5461 treatment-mediated immune activation may be a powerful mechanism of action to exploit, leading to novel drug combinations with a chance of increasing immunotherapy efficacy, possibly with some cancer specificity limiting deleterious toxicities.

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Targeted Delivery of Chloroquine to Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Enhances Inhibition of the Type I Interferon Response

10.1101/2021.06.09.447773 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marilyn E Allen ◽

Amit Golding ◽

Violeta Rus ◽

Nicholas B Karabin ◽

Sophia Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Targeted Delivery ◽

Pigment Epithelium ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Healthy Human ◽

Biodistribution Studies

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) causes damaging inflammation in multiple organs via the accumulation of immune complexes. These complexes activate plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) via TLR7 and TLR9, contributing to disease pathogenesis by driving secretion of inflammatory type I IFNs. Antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine (CQ), are TLR antagonists used to alleviate inflammation in SLE. However, they require ~3 months of continuous use before achieving therapeutic efficacy and can accumulate in the retinal pigment epithelium with chronic use resulting in retinopathy. We hypothesized that poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene sulfide) (PEG-b-PPS) filamentous nanocarriers, filomicelles (FMs) could improve drug activity and reduce toxicity by directly delivering CQ to pDCs via passive, morphology-based targeting. Healthy human PBMCs were treated with soluble CQ or CQ-loaded FMs, stimulated with TLR agonists or SLE patient sera, and type I IFN secretion was quantified via multi-subtype IFN-α ELISA and MX1 gene expression using real-time RT-qPCR. Our results showed that 50 µg CQ/mg FM decreased MX1 expression and IFN-α production after TLR activation with either synthetic nucleic acid agonists or immune complex rich sera from SLE patients. Cellular uptake and biodistribution studies showed that FMs preferentially accumulate in human pDCs in vitro and in tissues frequently damaged in SLE patients (i.e., liver and kidneys) while sparing the eye in vivo. These results showed that nanocarrier morphology enables drug delivery, and CQ-FMs may be equally effective and more targeted than soluble CQ at inhibiting SLE-relevant pathways.

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A Novel Sulfonated Derivative of β-Cyclodextrin Effectively Inhibits Influenza A Virus Infection in vitro and in vivo

Acta Naturae ◽

10.32607/20758251-2019-11-3-20-30 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 20-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. P. Goncharova ◽

Y. A. Kostyro ◽

A. V. Ivanov ◽

M. A. Zenkova

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Influenza Infection ◽

Lethal Infection ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Low Toxicity

The development of novel drugs against the influenza virus with high efficiency and low toxicity is an urgent and important task. Previous reports have demonstrated that compounds based on sulfo derivatives of oligo- and polysaccharides possess high antiviral activity. In this study, we have examined the ability of a novel sulfonated derivative of -cyclodextrin (KS-6469) to inhibit the influenza virus A/WSN/33 (H1N1) infection in vitro and in vivo. The antiviral potential of KS-6469 against the influenza virus was evaluated in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney epithelial cells treated with serially diluted KS-6469. We found out that KS-6469 completely inhibited viral reproduction after treatment of the infected cells with the compound for 48 h. Our data show that double intranasal treatment of mice with KS-6469 fully protected the animals from a lethal infection and significantly decreased the viral titers in the lungs of the infected animals. Thus, the novel sulfonated -cyclodextrin derivative KS-6469 is a promising candidate for the development of antiviral drugs for preventing and treating the influenza infection.

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In vivo administration of lentiviral vectors triggers a type I interferon response that restricts hepatocyte gene transfer and promotes vector clearance

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2006-10-049312 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 109 (7) ◽

pp. 2797-2805 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Brian D. Brown ◽

Giovanni Sitia ◽

Andrea Annoni ◽

Ehud Hauben ◽

Lucia Sergi Sergi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Transfer ◽

Transgene Expression ◽

Lentiviral Vectors ◽

Interferon Response ◽

Type I ◽

Nonparenchymal Cells ◽

Antiviral Responses ◽

Liver Gene

AbstractLiver gene transfer is a highly sought goal for the treatment of inherited and infectious diseases. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) have many desirable properties for hepatocyte-directed gene delivery, including the ability to integrate into nondividing cells. Unfortunately, upon systemic administration, LV transduces hepatocytes relatively inefficiently compared with nonparenchymal cells, and the duration of transgene expression is often limited by immune responses. Here, we investigated the role of innate antiviral responses in these events. We show that administration of LVs to mice triggers a rapid and transient IFNαβ response. This effect was dependent on functional vector particles, and in vitro challenge of antigen-presenting cells suggested that plasmacytoid dendritic cells initiated the response. Remarkably, when LVs were administered to animals that lack the capacity to respond to IFNαβ, there was a dramatic increase in hepatocyte transduction, and stable transgene expression was achieved. These findings indicate that, even in the setting of acute delivery of replication-defective vectors, IFNs effectively interfere with transduction in a cell-type–specific manner. Moreover, because disabling a single component of the innate/immune network was sufficient to establish persistent xenoantigen expression, our results raise the hope that the immunologic barriers to gene therapy are less insurmountable than expected.

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