Interleukin-10 and TGF-β are potent regulators of the transcriptional and antiviral response of IFN-α in non-parenchymal liver cells

Aims: IFN-α plays an important role in the defense against most viruses and is used for the treatment of hepatotropic viruses (HCV, HBV). However, there is still only little known about the specificity of the IFN-α response in non-parenchymal liver cells and its regulation by anti-inflammatory cytokines. Methods: To address these questions murine Kupffer cells (KC) and sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) were isolated, stimulated by IFN-α±IL-10 or TGF-β and analysed on the transcriptional (cDNA array, quant. rt-PCR) and protein level (Westernblot, EMSA). Furthermore, antiviral assays (EMCV) were performed to ass…