AUTHOR=Wang Xu , Wang He , Liu Man-Qing , Li Jie-Liang , Zhou Run-Hong , Zhou Yu , Wang Yi-Zhong , Zhou Wang , Ho Wen-Zhe 

TITLE=IFN-λ Inhibits Drug-Resistant HIV Infection of Macrophages

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2017

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00210

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2017.00210

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Type III interferons (IFN-lambdas) have been demonstrated to inhibit a number of virus, including HIV.  We further examined the anti-HIV effect of IFN-lambdas in macrophages.  We found that IFN-lambdas synergistically enhanced anti-HIV activity of antiretrovirals (AZT, Efavirenz, Indinavir and Emfuviride) in infected macrophages.  Importantly, IFN-lambdas could suppress HIV infection of macrophages with the drug-resistant strains, including AZT-resistant virus (A012) and RT inhibitor-resistant virus (TC49).  Mechanistically, IFN-lambdas were able to induce the expression of several important anti-HIV cellular factors, including myxovirus resistance 2 (Mx2), a newly identified HIV post-entry inhibitor and tetherin, a restriction factor that blocks HIV release from infected cells.  These observations provide additional evidence to support the potential use of IFN-lambads as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of HIV infection.