VACCINIA VIRUS-INDUCED CHANGES IN CYTOKINE-REGULATED ACUTE-PHASE PLASMA-PROTEIN SYNTHESIS BY HEPATOMA-CELLS

Human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, has been infected with vaccinia virus and synthesis of plasma proteins was determined by electroimmunoassay and corresponding mRNA's measured by Northern blotting. The inhibitor y effect of the virus was dose-and time-dependent. Electrophoretic mob ility shift assay revealed a decrease in C/EBP binding activities in n uclear extracts isolated from the infected hepatoma cells. Supershift analysis of the C/EBP isoforms showed alpha and beta subunit involveme nt in DNA binding. The treatment of the cells with interleukin-l, inte rleukin-6, and dexamethasone at the initial stage of infection appears to delay the virally induced inhibition of host cell protein synthesi s. Thus, possible ''protective'' role of the acute phase cytokines in viral infection is proposed.