Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus-mediated capping of CD21/CR2 by alpha interferon (IFN-alpha): immediate antiviral activity of IFN-alpha during the early phase of infection

Abstract

Early events of human B-lymphocyte infection by Epstein-Barr virus involve the virus binding to CD21, capping, and subsequent internalization of the virus-receptor complex. We show here that alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) inhibits the capping of Epstein-Barr virus-CD21 complexes. Synthetic peptides with the CD21 binding motif of IFN-alpha mimic IFN-alpha activity, suggesting that this effect may be mediated by IFN-alpha-CD21 interaction. Our findings demonstrate a novel and immediate mechanism of IFN-alpha action.