Abstract
Human recombinant interferon-α (IFN-α) was assayed for its antiviral effect on hepatitis A virus (HAV) replication in the human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. IFN-α resulted in concentration-dependent reduction of HAV antigen expression and HAV replication. IFN-α had a prophylactic effect, but was still effective when it was added after the infection, even at the end of the first replication cycle. An important increase in 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the IFN-treated human liver cells was observed. The antiviral effect of IFN-α could be attributed to the induction of this enzyme. Moreover we have shown that IFN-α and glycyrrhizin were synergistic in their antiviral actions against HAV. IFN-α emerged, from the present study, as a promising candidate for chemotherapy of severe forms of hepatitis A.
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