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Interferon increases the resistance of the body to HIV infection
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The mechanism of fighting interferon with HIV became known through the joint work of Swiss and American scientists, reports MedicalXpress with reference to the journal PNAS. Professor Satish K. Pilai (Satish K. Pilai) and colleagues from the University of California in San Francisco conducted a study in patients who were both hepatitis C and HIV infected.
Interferon has long been known as a tool that improves the status of patients with HIV infection. The results of laboratory studies of previous years showed that in vitro (in vitro) interferon directly suppresses HIV, but in the body the mechanism was completely different.
The Pilaya group found that when interferon is administered, the patient develops two proteins-elements of the immune system - APOBEC3 and Teterin, which are related to the so-called restriction factors.
APOBEC3 penetrates into viral particles at the stage of formation and breaks their genetic material in such a way that it is no longer able to reproduce.
Teterin acts differently: it attaches itself to the virus emerging from the cage and literally pulls it back. Thus, the protein prevents the transmission of the virus to other cells.
Nevertheless, HIV is able to withstand the action of both Teterin and APOBEC3 using its own Vpu and Vif proteins, respectively.
The researchers selected patients included in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, which was launched in 1998. These patients received interferon as a medicine against hepatitis and did not take antiretroviral drugs to suppress HIV.
Scientists took tests in 20 patients before, during and after the injection of an interferon dose. It turned out that the highest level of restriction factors is observed after the drug has entered the bloodstream. In patients with elevated levels of APOBEC3 and Teterin, the lowest activity of the immunodeficiency virus was also observed.
Pilay urges scientists to equip themselves with new knowledge as soon as possible, the use of which in practice can quickly increase the level of restriction factors in the blood of patients and increase the resistance of the body to HIV infection.
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