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IFN-α production by human mononuclear cells infected with varicella-zoster virus through TLR9-dependent and -independent pathways

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Abstract

Understanding the defense mechanisms of the host of an organism is important for infection control. In previous studies, we demonstrated that interferon-α (IFN-α), but not IL-12, was produced by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Here, we investigated what kind of cell(s) and which signal molecule(s) are involved in IFN-α production. Using cell isolation and ELISA, we found that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were responsible for IFN-α production during VZV infection. We also found that Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) was involved in VZV-induced IFN-α production because inhibitory CpG oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited IFN-α production. UV-inactivated VZV-induced IFN-α production was lower than that of active VZV, indicating another TLR9-independent pathway. Further studies demonstrated that double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase, but not DNA-dependent protein kinase was involved in VZV-induced IFN-α production. Together, these results suggest that pDCs play an important role in IFN-α production during VZV infection through TLR9-dependent and -independent pathways.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by grants NSC 94-2314-B-182A-101 (H R Yu) and NSC 98-2314-B-182A-004-MY3 (H R Yu) from the National Science Council, Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan

    Hong-Ren Yu, Hsin-Chun Huang, Ho-Chang Kuo, Jiunn-Ming Sheen & Kuender D Yang

  2. Department of Obstetrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan

    Chia-Yo Ou & Te-Yao Hsu

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  1. Hong-Ren Yu
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Correspondence to Kuender D Yang.

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Yu, HR., Huang, HC., Kuo, HC. et al. IFN-α production by human mononuclear cells infected with varicella-zoster virus through TLR9-dependent and -independent pathways. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 181–188 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.84

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