The use of human intestinal enteroid cell cultures for detection of multiple gastroenteric viruses.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) and human astrovirus (HAstV) are viral enteric pathogens and known causative agents of acute gastroenteritis. Identifying the presence of these viruses in environmental samples such as irrigation water, or foods exposed to virus contaminated water (e.g.

Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies to Measure Cell Surface Protein Levels of Human Interferon-Lambda Receptor 1.

Type III interferons (IFN-lambdas, IFN-λs) are important antiviral cytokines that can also modulate immune responses by acting through a heterodimeric receptor composed of the specific and limited expressed IFN-λR1 chain and the ubiquitous IL-10R2 chain, which is shared with IL-10 family cytokines. Conflicting data have been reported regarding which cells express the IFN-λR1 subunit and directly respond to IFN-λs. This is, in part, owing to transcript levels of the IFN-λR1 gene, , not always correlating with cell surface protein levels.

Impact of Baloxavir Resistance-Associated Substitutions on Influenza Virus Growth and Drug Susceptibility.

Baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is a recently FDA-approved influenza virus polymerase acidic (PA) endonuclease inhibitor. Several PA substitutions have been demonstrated to confer reduced susceptibility to baloxavir; however, their impacts on measurements of antiviral drug susceptibility and replication capacity when present as a fraction of the viral population have not been established. We generated recombinant A/California/04/09 (H1N1)-like viruses (IAV) with PA I38L, I38T, or E199D substitutions and B/Victoria/504/2000-like virus (IBV) with PA I38T.

A comparison of interferon gene expression induced by influenza A virus infection of human airway epithelial cells from two different donors.

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease that can cause local annual epidemics and worldwide pandemics of different morbidity and mortality. Our understanding of host factors that modulate the frequency and severity of influenza virus infections is less than complete. In this study, we examined the inter-individual variations in the innate immune responses to H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses (IAV) using primary cultures of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells derived from two different donors (D1 and D2).

The Interleukin-13 Receptor-α1 Chain Is Essential for Induction of the Alternative Macrophage Activation Pathway by IL-13 but Not IL-4.

Macrophages coexpress both the interleukin (IL)-2Rγ chain (γ(c)) and IL-13Rα1. These receptor chains can heterodimerize with IL-4Rα to form type I or type II IL-4 receptor complexes, respectively. We used macrophages derived from Il2rg and Il13ra1 knockout (KO) mice to evaluate the requirements for these receptor chains for induction of the alternative macrophage activation (AMA) pathway by IL-4 and IL-13.

An essential role for IFN-β in the induction of IFN-stimulated gene expression by LPS in macrophages.

TLR agonists such as LPS and poly(I:C) induce expression of type I IFNs, such as IFN-α and -β, by macrophages. To examine the role of IFN-β in the induction of ISGs by LPS, we compared the ability of LPS to induce ISGF3 activity and ISG expression in bone marrow-derived macrophages from WT and Ifnb1(-/-) mice. We found that LPS treatment activated ISGF3 and induced expression of ISGs such as Oas1, Mx1, Ddx58 (RIG-I), and Ifih1 (MDA5) in WT macrophages, but not in macrophages derived from Ifnb1(-/-) mice or Ifnar1(-/-) mice.

A variant upstream of IFNL3 (IL28B) creating a new interferon gene IFNL4 is associated with impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus.

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. We performed RNA sequencing in primary human hepatocytes activated with synthetic double-stranded RNA to mimic HCV infection. Upstream of IFNL3 (IL28B) on chromosome 19q13.

Interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) induces signal transduction and gene expression in human hepatocytes, but not in lymphocytes or monocytes.

This study compared the ability of IFN-α and IFN-λ to induce signal transduction and gene expression in primary human hepatocytes, PBLs, and monocytes. IFN-α drug products are widely used to treat chronic HCV infection; however, IFN-α therapy often induces hematologic toxicities as a result of the broad expression of IFNARs on many cell types, including most leukocytes. rIFN-λ1 is currently being tested as a potential alternative to IFN-α for treating chronic HCV.

Interferon-lambda and therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Interferon (IFN)-α, a type-I IFN, is widely used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection, but the broad expression of IFN-α receptors often leads to adverse reactions in many organs. Here, we examine IFN-λ, a type-III IFN, as a therapeutic alternative to IFN-α. Like IFN-α, IFN-λ also induces antiviral activity in hepatocytes, but might induce fewer adverse reactions because its receptor is largely restricted to cells of epithelial origin.

Interleukin-26: an IL-10-related cytokine produced by Th17 cells.

IL-26 is classified as a member of the IL-10 cytokine family because it has limited sequence homology to IL-10 and the IL-10-related cytokines. The human IL-26 gene, IL26, is located on chromosome 12q15 between the genes for two other important class-2 cytokines, IFNG (IFN-γ) and IL22 (IL-22). IL-26 is often co-expressed with IL-22 by activated T cells, especially Th17 cells.

Tuning sensitivity to IL-4 and IL-13: differential expression of IL-4Ralpha, IL-13Ralpha1, and gammac regulates relative cytokine sensitivity.

Interleukin (IL)-4 and -13 are related cytokines sharing functional receptors. IL-4 signals through the type I (IL-4Ralpha/common gamma-chain [gammac]) and the type II (IL-4Ralpha/-13Ralpha1) IL-4 receptors, whereas IL-13 utilizes only the type II receptor. In this study, we show that mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and human and mouse monocytes showed a much greater sensitivity to IL-4 than to IL-13.

Alpha and lambda interferon together mediate suppression of CD4 T cells induced by respiratory syncytial virus.

The mechanism by which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) suppresses T-cell proliferation to itself and other antigens is poorly understood. We used monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) and CD4 T cells and measured [(3)H]thymidine incorporation to determine the factors responsible for RSV-induced T-cell suppression. These two cell types were sufficient for RSV-induced suppression of T-cell proliferation in response to cytomegalovirus or Staphylococcus enterotoxin B.

Characterization of the mouse IFN-lambda ligand-receptor system: IFN-lambdas exhibit antitumor activity against B16 melanoma.

Recently discovered type III IFNs (IFN-lambda) exert their antiviral and immunomodulatory activities through a unique receptor complex composed of IFN-lambdaR1 and interleukin-10 receptor 2. To further study type III IFNs, we cloned and characterized mouse IFN-lambda ligand-receptor system. We showed that, similar to their human orthologues, mIFN-lambda2 and mIFN-lambda3 signal through the IFN-lambda receptor complex, activate IFN stimulated gene factor 3, and are capable of inducing antiviral protection and MHC class I antigen expression in several cell types including B16 melanoma cells.

Autoantibodies and autoantigens in the urine of SLE patients.

Autoantibodies against RNA polymerase I (RNAPI), DNA, La and ribosomal P proteins were detected in the urine of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, many with normal protein excretion rates. In a number of cases, the antibodies were detectable in the urine but not the serum sample of the same patient. The presence and relative concentrations of the urinary autoantibodies correlated with disease activity.

The expanded family of class II cytokines that share the IL-10 receptor-2 (IL-10R2) chain.

Several novel interleukin (IL)-10-related cytokines have recently been discovered. These include IL-22, IL-26, and the interferon-lambda (IFN-lambda) proteins IFN-lambda1 (IL-29), IFN-lambda2 (IL-28A), and IFN-lambda3 (IL-28B). The ligand-binding chains for IL-22, IL-26, and IFN-lambda are distinct from that used by IL-10; however, all of these cytokines use a common second chain, IL-10 receptor-2 (IL-10R2; CRF2-4), to assemble their active receptor complexes.

Human interleukin-19 and its receptor: a potential role in the induction of Th2 responses.

Interleukin-19 (IL-19) is a newly discovered member of the IL-10 family of ligands whose function is presently undefined. We recently described its cloning and initial characterization and in so doing, noted that the induction of IL-19 by LPS in human monocytes was down-regulated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and up-regulated by IL-4. This preliminary observation led us to speculate that IL-19 may play a role in the Th1/Th2 system and we examined this hypothesis further.

Cutting edge: IL-26 signals through a novel receptor complex composed of IL-20 receptor 1 and IL-10 receptor 2.

The receptor for IL-26 (AK155), a cytokine of the IL-10 family, has not previously been defined. We demonstrate that the active receptor complex for IL-26 is a heterodimer composed of two receptor proteins: IL-20R1 and IL-10R2. Signaling through the IL-26R results in activation of STAT1 and STAT3 which can be blocked by neutralizing Abs against IL-20R1 or IL-10R2.

Leishmania donovani-induced expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in human macrophages: a novel mechanism for intracellular parasite suppression of activation.

Leishmania donovani protozoan parasites, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, establish an infection partly by interfering with cytokine signaling in the host macrophages. Therefore, we investigated the expression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) genes in human macrophages infected with L. donovani.

IFN-lambdas mediate antiviral protection through a distinct class II cytokine receptor complex.

We report here the identification of a ligand-receptor system that, upon engagement, leads to the establishment of an antiviral state. Three closely positioned genes on human chromosome 19 encode distinct but paralogous proteins, which we designate interferon-lambda1 (IFN-lambda1), IFN-lambda2 and IFN-lambda3 (tentatively designated as IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B, respectively, by HUGO). The expression of IFN-lambda mRNAs was inducible by viral infection in several cell lines.

Regulation of the dephosphorylation of Stat6. Participation of Tyr-713 in the interleukin-4 receptor alpha, the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1, and the proteasome.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (Stat6) plays an important role in interleukin (IL)-4-induced responses. To analyze the regulation of Stat6 phosphorylation, cells were cultured in the continuous presence of IL-4 or after a pulse and washout. In the continual presence of IL-4, Stat6 remained phosphorylated for an extended period.