Nishioka K, Daidoji T, Nakaya T. Demethylation around the transcriptional start site of the IFN-β gene induces IFN-β production and protection against influenza virus infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Oct 5.
Seasonal influenza is related to lifestyle-associated risk factors and it has been suggested that the epigenetic state of the individual plays an important role in the severity of infection. It is well known that epigenetics stringently regulate gene expression in each tissue and that aberrant epigenetic states can influence disease development. Despite some studies, limited information is available on changes in epigenetic states before and after influenza virus infection; in particular, it is unknown whether the epigenetic state at specific sites affects subsequent infection. Here, we analyzed CpG methylation states in clones derived from human primary small airway epithelial cells with the same genetic background but different viral replication rates. Our study revealed that demethylating CpGs downstream of the IFN-β transcription start site using a CRISPR/dCas9 system suppressed viral replication during subsequent influenza virus infection. Thus, our observations suggest that epigenome editing might provide adequate protection against the influenza virus.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Host restriction factor SAMHD1 does not restrict seasonal influenza virus replication in human epithelial or macrophage-like cells 18 hours ago
- Enhancing the stability of Influenza A reporter viruses by recoding the gfp gene 18 hours ago
- T cell help is a limiting factor for rare anti-influenza memory B cells to reenter germinal centers and generate potent broadly neutralizing antibodies 3 days ago
- Wild birds drive the introduction, maintenance, and spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in Spain, 2021-2022 3 days ago
- [preprint]FluNexus: a versatile web platform for antigenic prediction and visualization of influenza A viruses 3 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


