lrrfip۱ inhibits hepatitis c virus replication by inducing type i interferon in hepatocytes

conclusions lrrfip1 and its mediated production of type i interferon play a role in controlling hcv infection. the findings of this study provide new target for hcv treatment and contribute to development of anti-hcv drugs. results lrrfip1 increased the expression of ifn-β in hepatocytes with or without hcv infection. induction of ifn-β by lrrfip1 was enhanced with the presence of hepatitis c virus. overexpression of lrrfip1 in hepatocytes inhibited hcv replication. however, hcv infection did not regulate intracellular expression of lrrfip1. materials and methods induction of ifn-β by lrrfip1 in huh7 and huh7.5.1 was determined by real-time pcr and western blotting in vitro. inhibition of hcv replication by lrrfip1 overexpression in hepatocytes was assessed. objectives the aim of this study was to assess the role of lrrfip1 in induction of ifn-β and inhibition of hcv infection in hepatocytes. background hepatitis c virus infection is one of the leading causes of end stage liver diseases. the innate immune response slows down viral replication by activating cytokines such as type i interferon (ifn-α/β), which trigger the synthesis of antiviral proteins and modulate the adaptive immune system. recently, leucine-rich repeat (in flightless i) interacting protein-1 (lrrfip1) was reported contributing to the production of interferon-β in macrophages.