Oncostatin M enhances the antiviral effects of type I interferon and activates immunostimulatory functions in liver epithelial cells

Oncostatin M (OSM) is released together with type I interferon (IFN) by activated dendritic cells, suggesting a concerted action of these cytokines in the biological response against infection.

We found that OSM increases the antiviral effect of IFN-alpha in Huh7 hepatoma cells infected with hepatitis A or hepatitis C virus and synergizes with IFN-alpha in the induction of antiviral genes. The combination of OSM and IFN-alpha led to upregulation of both STAT1 and STAT3 together with intense and prolonged activation of STAT1, STAT3, and Jak1. OSM with or without IFN-alpha also activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which is known to enhance transcription of IFN-alpha-inducible genes. Interestingly, OSM combined with IFN-alpha strongly induced immunoproteasome genes and other genes involved in antigen processing and presentation.

Moreover, OSM, alone or in combination with IFN-alpha, upregulated relevant innate immunity molecules and increased the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 and interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Ralpha) in liver cells. Hepatoma cells transfected with a plasmid encoding a viral antigen were able to activate effector T cells when pretreated with IFN-alpha plus OSM but not with each cytokine separately. Also, OSM, more than IFN-alpha, augmented the ability of Huh7 cells to transpresent IL-15 to responding lymphocytes and increased the immunostimulatory activity of liver epithelial cells by presenting a short viral peptide to sensitized cytotoxic T cells.

In conclusion, OSM enhances the antiviral effects of type I interferon and cooperates with it in the induction of adaptive immune responses to pathogens. These findings may have therapeutic implications.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  J Virol. 2009 Apr;83(7):3298-311.  doi: 10.1128/JVI.02167-08.  Epub 2009 Jan 21.