Adjuvant PIKA protects hepatoma cells from dengue virus infection by promoting a TBK-1-dependent innate immune response

Arch Virol. 2013 Apr;158(4):829-38. doi: 10.1007/s00705-012-1556-8. Epub 2012 Dec 7.

Abstract

Our study presents a first investigation of the effect of the adjuvant PIKA on dengue virus (DENV) replication. PIKA pretreatment decreased the levels of DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) mRNA, protein and viral particles in the hepatoma cell line HepG2. Treatment with PIKA simultaneously with DENV2 infection, but not after infection, resulted in a protective effect. Significant induction of type I and type III interferons (IFNs), as well as interferon-stimulated genes was detected in PIKA-pretreated cells. Neutralization of IFN-β partially restored the replication levels of DENV2 in PIKA-pretreated cells, suggesting that IFN-β is one of the mediators involved in the antiviral action of PIKA. Additionally, blockade of TBK-1 signaling largely restored the IFN induction and viral suppression effects mediated by PIKA, further illustrating that PIKA plays its anti-DENV role by promoting innate immunity. These findings suggest that PIKA is an attractive agent to be used in the prevention of DENV diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic* / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
  • Cell Line
  • Culicidae / cytology
  • Dengue Virus / classification
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Dengue Virus / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferons / immunology
  • Interferons / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / immunology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Virus Replication / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Interferons
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TBK1 protein, human