Lambda Interferon Inhibits Hepatitis B and C Virus Replication

Abstract

Lambda interferon (IFN-λ) induces an intracellular IFN-α/β-like antiviral response through a receptor complex distinct from the IFN-α/β receptor. We therefore determined the ability of IFN-λ to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. IFN-λ inhibits HBV replication in a differentiated murine hepatocyte cell line with kinetics and efficiency similar to IFN-α/β and does not require the expression of IFN-α/β or IFN-γ. Furthermore, IFN-λ blocked the replication of a subgenomic and a full-length genomic HCV replicon in human hepatocyte Huh7 cells. These results suggest the possibility that IFN-λ may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of chronic HBV or HCV infection.