Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication by interferon alpha can involve multiple anti-viral factors.

ABSTRACT: The shortcomings of current direct-acting anti-viral therapy against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has led to interest in host-directed therapy. Here we re-examine the use of interferon proteins to inhibit HCMV replication utilizing both high and low passage strains of HCMV. Pre-treatment of cells with interferon alpha (IFNα) was required for robust and prolonged inhibition of both low and high passage HCMV strains, with no obvious toxicity, and was associated with an increased anti-viral state in HCMV-infected cells. Pre-treatment of cells with IFNα led to poor expression of HCMV immediate-early proteins from both high and low passage strains, which was associated with the presence of the anti-viral factor SUMO-PML. Inhibition of HCMV replication in the presence of IFNα involving ZAP prote

SUBMITTER: Chowdhury S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10770924 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature