Oncostatin M synergistically inhibits HCV RNA replication in combination with interferon-α

Abstract 

Oncostatin M (OSM), a member of the interleukin-6 family, possesses various functions, including hepatocyte differentiation and suppression of melanoma cell growth. Here, we report anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of OSM as a new function of this cytokine. OSM possessed marked anti-HCV activity (50% effective concentration: 0.71ng/ml) in an HCV RNA replication cell culture system. The most striking finding is that OSM exhibited synergistic inhibitory activity on interferon (IFN)-α even at a low concentration with weak anti-HCV activity, such as 25pg/ml. OSM is a candidate anti-HCV reagent and may improve the current IFN therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Abbreviations: SVR, sustained virological response, CH C, chronic hepatitis C, EC₅₀, 50% effective concentration, EMCV, encephalomyocarditis virus, gp130, glycoprotein 130, HCV, hepatitis C virus, PEG-IFN, pegylated-interferon, IL, interleukin, IRES, internal ribosomal entry site, LIF, leukemia-inhibitory factor, NS, non-structural, OSM, oncostatin M, RBV, ribavirin, RL, Renilla luciferase, RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription

Keywords: Oncostatin M, Interferon, Hepatitis C virus