The picornavirus Aichi virus (AiV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus that causes acute gastroenteritis symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Antiviral host defense involves the fast response of type I interferon (IFN) and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines against pathogens. However, the intestinal inflammatory and antiviral response to AiV infection is poorly understood. This study evaluated the antiviral activity of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which form a single-cell layer separating the bowel wall from pathogens. Isolated primary mouse IECs were subjected to AiV infection and virion production, inducing the mRNA expression of type I/type III IFNs and inflammatory cytokines. The mechanism involved induced the expression of phospho-IFN regulatory factor 3 and mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein of type I IFN signaling. These findings were also observed in AiV-infected human colon carcinoma cells. In summary, a viral productive and pathogenic infection of AiV in primary murine IECs is validated.
Keywords: Aichi virus; IRF3; interferon; intestinal epithelial cells.