IFN-alpha 1 plasmid construct affords protection against HSV-1 infection in transfected L929 fibroblasts

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the resistance against her pes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) using an interferon-alpha 1 (IFN-alpha 1) transgene in specifically targeted cells in vitro. Transfection of mouse fi broblast L929 cells with an IFN-alpha 1 plasmid construct reduced viral loa d and viral gene expression in a time-dependent fashion. Supernatants from IFN-alpha 1-transfected cells augmented natural killer (NK) cell activity, and such an effect was antagonized with neutralizing antibody to IFN-alpha/ beta. In addition, transfected cells displayed an increase in the IFN induc ible genes (2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase [2',5'-OAS], T cell-specific gu anine nucleotide triphosphate-binding protein, IFN regulatory factor 1 [IRF -1], and major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class I) compared with plas mid vector-treated controls. Collectively, these results show that IFN-alph a 1 transfection of cells in vitro induces or upregulates a spectrum of IFN -regulated genes involved in the direct or indirect antiviral action of thi s cytokine. In addition, the transgene significantly increases the resistan ce of transfected cells in vitro to HSV-1 infection.