Interferon-induced guanylate binding protein-1 (GBP-1) mediates an antiviral effect against vesicular stomatitis virus and encephalomyocarditis virus

A cDNA encoding the human guanylate binding protein-1 (hGBP-1) was expresse d in HeLa cells using a constitutive expression vector. Stably transfected clones expressing hGBP-1 exhibited resistance to the cytopathic effect medi ated by both vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomyocarditis viru s (EMCV) and produced less viral progeny than control cells following infec tion with these viruses. To study the role hGBP-1 plays in the IFN-mediated antiviral effect, cells were stably transfected with a construct expressin g antisense RNA for hGBP-1. VSV infection of IFN-alpha-treated antisense RN A-expressing cells produced an amount of virus comparable to that produced in the parental cell line, while EMCV infection of the IFN-alpha-treated tr ansfected cells and VSV and EMCV infection of the IFN-gamma-treated transfe cted cells produced far more virus than was produced in the parental cell l ine. These results demonstrate that GBP-1 mediates an antiviral effect agai nst VSV and EMCV and plays a role in the IFN-mediated antiviral response ag ainst these viruses, (C) 1999 Academic Press.