| Abstract | Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) protein and activity can be detected by enzyme immunoassays and biological assays. However, precise quantification of low IFN-beta mRNA concentrations, which is advantageous for investigating IFN-beta gene expression in small tissue samples or during the early stage of a virus infection, remains a challenge. Therefore, we established a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for IFN-beta and the housekeeping gene porphobilinogen deanimase (PBGD) in separated assays as well as in a multiplex procedure. Sensitivity for both the templates was less than 20 copies with an intra- and interassay variability of less than 5%. IFN-beta qPCR was utilized to optimize IFN-beta induction with dsRNA polyinosic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), delivered by a liposomal transfection agent for reproducible but low, non-cell-toxic IFN-beta concentrations. For studying coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) interference with IFN-beta expression, CVB3 infected fibroblasts were induced with poly I:C. A significant reduction of IFN-beta mRNA but not PBGD mRNA was demonstrated 5 h after CVB3 infection, indicating a specific inhibition of IFN-beta expression by CVB3 on the mRNA level, in addition to previously reported effects on the translation/post-translation level. In conclusion, sensitive IFN-beta/PBGD multiplex qPCR proved to be a useful tool to study viral interaction with IFN-beta expression. |
| Authors | Ralf Richtsteiger, Cornelia Henke-Gendo, Michaela Schmidtke, Gabriele Harste, Albert Heim
(Affiliation: Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.)
|
| Journal | Cytokine
(Cytokine)
Vol. 24
Issue 5
Pg. 190-200
(Dec 7 2003)
ISSN: 1043-4666 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 14596815
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- RNA, Messenger
- Receptors, Virus
- coxsackievirus B receptor
- Interferon-beta
- Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase
|
| Topics |
- Gene Expression Regulation
(physiology)
- Humans
- Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase
(metabolism)
- Interferon-beta
(biosynthesis, genetics)
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
- Receptors, Virus
(metabolism)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Temperature
- Time Factors
- Transcriptional Activation
- Virus Diseases
(metabolism)
|