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J. Virol., 04 1997, 3236-3243, Vol 71, No. 4
VJ Cavanaugh, LG Guidotti and FV Chisari
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine produced by antigen-
presenting cells that has the ability to induce gamma interferon (IFN-
gamma) secretion by T and natural killer cells and to generate normal Th1
responses. These properties suggest that IL-12 may play an important role
in the immune response to many viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Recently, we have shown that HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes inhibit
HBV replication in the livers of transgenic mice by a noncytolytic process
that is mediated in part by IFN-gamma. In the current study, we
demonstrated that the same antiviral response can be initiated by
recombinant murine IL-12 and we showed that the antiviral effect of IL-12
extends to extrahepatic sites such as the kidney. Southern blot analyses
revealed the complete disappearance of HBV replicative intermediates from
liver and kidney tissues at IL-12 doses that induce little or no
inflammation in these tissues. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis
demonstrated the disappearance of cytoplasmic hepatitis B core antigen from
both tissues after IL-12 treatment, suggesting that IL-12 either prevents
the assembly or triggers the degradation of the nucleocapsid particles
within which HBV replication occurs. Importantly, we demonstrated that
although IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IFN-alpha/beta mRNA
are induced in the liver and kidney after IL-12 administration, the
antiviral effect of IL-12 is mediated principally by its ability to induce
IFN-gamma production in this model. These results suggest that IL-12,
through its ability to induce IFN-gamma, probably plays an important role
in the antiviral immune response to HBV during natural infection. Further,
since relatively nontoxic doses of recombinant IL- 12 profoundly inhibit
HBV replication in the liver and extrahepatic sites in this model, IL-12
may have therapeutic value as an antiviral agent for the treatment of
chronic HBV infection.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Interleukin-12 inhibits hepatitis B virus replication in transgenic mice
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
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