A lack of patient response to alpha interferon (α-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 α-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 α-IFN signaling. ...

Human monocytes were activated to secrete alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) by poly IC/LC but not by other monocyte activators, such as muramyl dipeptide (MDP). In contrast, monocytes were activated to secrete fibroblast growth factor (FGF) release by MDP but not by poly IC/LC. The amount of total RNA present in unactivated and activated human monocytes was similar. Using two 32P-labeled cDNA probes...

Members of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family of DNA binding transcription factors have roles in growth regulation, antiviral responses, and transcriptional induction of interferon (IFN)-activated early response genes. The IRF family member ISGF3 gamma is the DNA binding component of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), a multicomponent complex responsible for the stimulation of IFN...

Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies directed against human lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN), Escherichia coli-derived human IFN-alpha 2, or two synthetic fragments of human IFN-alpha 1 all neutralized the antiviral activity of human alpha IFNs when added to the culture medium of MDBK cells together with IFNs. However, when these antibodies were microinjected into the cytoplasm or the nucleus...

In a prospective randomised controlled study, 90 patients with chronic active hepatitis C and compensated cirrhosis were assigned symptomatic treatment or interferon alfa (IFN-alpha). We report data on decompensation, detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality rates. IFN-alpha gave a sustained response in only a small proportion of patients, but worsening of compensated cirrhosis was ...

The current treatment of chronic hepatitis C is based on pegylated alpha interferon (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin. The aim of this study was to identify biological and clinical variables related to IFN therapy that could predict patient outcome. The study enrolled 47 patients treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin combined therapy. The interferon concentration was measured in serum by a bioassay. The e...

The essential components of the immune system that control primary and chronic infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice were investigated. Infection within the first few days can be controlled by alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) alone without significant contribution of B, T, or NK cells. IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma cooperate in the elimination of virus in the absence o...

A highly purified hybrid human leukocyte interferon, IFN-alpha AD, produced in Escherichia coli, has been used to define optimum treatment conditions for L1210 leukemia in mice. Treatments prior to tumor inoculation were ineffective. Treatments from the third day post-tumor inoculation were most effective, and treatments every third day were more effective than were regimens involving more freq...

We have described in this paper a novel human interferon (IFN) with antigenic and cross-species reactivity of alpha-IFN and physicochemical properties of gamma-IFN. This IFN is produced by normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells during an immune response but has also been associated with autoimmune disease (10). The system described here will be useful in elucidating the biological significan...

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) was first described for its ability to inhibit interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Herein, we studied the balance between IFN-gamma and IL-10 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan (SAC) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Monocyte depletion reduced IL-10 production by 90% and resulted in an increased IFN-gam...