Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
Chichen type III interferon produced by silkworm bioreactor induces ISG expression and restricts ALV-J infection in
Min Feng1,2, Nan Zhang1, Tingting Xie1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510642, People's Republic of China.
Type III interferon (IFN-λ) has recently been shown to exert a significant antiviral impact against viruses in vertebrates. Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), which causes tumor disease and immunosuppression in infected chicken, is a retrovirus that is difficult to prevent and control because of a lack of vaccines and drugs. Here, we obtained chicken IFN-λ (chIFN-λ) using a silkworm bioreactor and demonstrated that chIFN-λ has antiviral activity against ALV-J infection of both chicken embryo fibroblast cell line (DF1) and epithelial cell line (LMH). We found that chIFN-λ triggered higher levels of particular type III interferon-stimulated genes (type III ISGs) including myxovirus resistance protein (Mx), viperin (RSAD2), and interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) in DF1 and LMH cells. Furthermore, over-expression of Mx, viperin, and IFITM3 could inhibit ALV-J infection in DF1 and LMH cells. Therefore, these results suggested that the anti-ALV-J function of chIFN-λ was specifically implemented by induction of expression of type III ISGs. Our data identified chIFN-λ as a critical antiviral agent of ALV-J infection and provides a potentially and attractive platform for the production of commercial chIFN-λ.
Type III interferon (IFN-λ) has recently been shown to exert a significant antiviral impact against viruses in vertebrates. Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), which causes tumor disease and immunosuppression in infected chicken, is a retrovirus that is difficult to prevent and control because of a lack of vaccines and drugs. Here, we obtained chicken IFN-λ (chIFN-λ) using a silkworm bioreactor and demonstrated that chIFN-λ has antiviral activity against ALV-J infection of both chicken embryo fibroblast cell line (DF1) and epithelial cell line (LMH). We found that chIFN-λ triggered higher levels of particular type III interferon-stimulated genes (type III ISGs) including myxovirus resistance protein (Mx), viperin (RSAD2), and interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) in DF1 and LMH cells. Furthermore, over-expression of Mx, viperin, and IFITM3 could inhibit ALV-J infection in DF1 and LMH cells. Therefore, these results suggested that the anti-ALV-J function of chIFN-λ was specifically implemented by induction of expression of type III ISGs. Our data identified chIFN-λ as a critical antiviral agent of ALV-J infection and provides a potentially and attractive platform for the production of commercial chIFN-λ.
Related Concept Videos
10:00High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
03:11Quantification of Bioactive Type-I Interferons using a Secreted Embryonic Alkaline Phosphatase Reporter Assay
09:34Identification of Growth Inhibition Phenotypes Induced by Expression of Bacterial Type III Effectors in Yeast
09:11Imaging of In Situ Interferon Gamma Production in the Mouse Spleen following Listeria monocytogenes Infection
02:17An In Vitro Assay for Screening Interferons as Potent Inhibitors of Zika Virus Growth
10:10Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

