Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is resistant to the antiviral activity of several interferon alpha subtypes

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2011 Jun;31(6):475-9. doi: 10.1089/jir.2010.0125. Epub 2011 Jan 15.

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) are critically important in the control of influenza A virus infections. To better understand the pathogenic characteristics of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (pH1N1) from an innate immunity viewpoint, we investigated whether in vitro pH1N1 is sensitive to the antiviral activity of IFN beta, leukocyte IFN alpha, and several IFN alpha subtypes in a human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line under single-growth cycle conditions. The results showed that 50% inhibitory concentration values against pH1N1 for various type I IFN preparations were higher than those against the IFN-sensitive encephalomyocarditis virus. Leukocyte IFN alpha and IFN alpha 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 17, and 21 subtypes also appeared to be less active against pH1N1 than the Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 human influenza strain A. Taken together, the results provide new insights into the contributions of the various IFN alpha subtypes toward the regulation of innate immunity against pH1N1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / pathogenicity
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / physiology*
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy*
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Interferon Type I / pharmacology
  • Interferon Type I / therapeutic use*
  • Pandemics
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Respiratory Mucosa / drug effects*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / virology
  • Virus Replication / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / immunology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon Type I
  • Recombinant Proteins