Interferons Inhibit Ebola Virus Infection of Human Keratinocytes

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe hemorrhagic disease in humans.
• While macrophages are early targets, other cells like keratinocytes are infected later.
• Infectious EBOV on skin surfaces may transmit the virus between individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate EBOV infection in human skin keratinocytes.
• To determine the effect of interferons (IFNs) on EBOV infection in keratinocytes.
• To identify host genes modulated by IFNs in keratinocytes during EBOV infection.

Main Methods:

• EBOV and modified EBOV (EBOVΔVP30) infection of normal human skin keratinocytes (NHSK-1).
• Pre-treatment of NHSK-1 cells with type I, II, and III interferons (IFNs).
• Transcriptome analysis of IFN-treated keratinocytes to identify interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs).

Main Results:

• EBOV infects NHSK-1 cells.
• IFN pre-treatment inhibited EBOVΔVP30 and rVSV/EBOV GP infection in a dose-dependent manner.
• IFN treatment upregulated a subset of ISGs in keratinocytes, common across all three IFN types.

Conclusions:

• Interferon-stimulated genes induced in keratinocytes can reduce EBOV infection.
• ISGs represent potential therapeutic targets for EBOV infection.