Antiviral activity of limitin against encephalomyocarditis virus, herpes simplex virus, and mouse hepatitis virus: diverse requirements by limitin and alpha interferon for interferon regulatory factor 1.

ABSTRACT: Limitin has sequence homology with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and IFN-beta and utilizes the IFN-alpha/beta receptor. However, it has no influence on the proliferation of normal myeloid and erythroid progenitors. In this study, we show that limitin has antiviral activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Limitin inhibited not only cytopathic effects in encephalomyocarditis virus- or herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1-infected L929 cells, but also plaque formation in mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) type 2-infected DBT cells. In addition, administration of limitin to mice suppressed MHV-induced hepatitis and HSV-induced death. The antiviral activity may be mediated in part by 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, RNA-dependent protein kinase, and Mx protein, which inhibit viral replication or degrade vira

SUBMITTER: Kawamoto S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC187381 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature