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Journals / Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry / 2026 / Volume: 54 Issue: 1

The effect of favipiravir on interferon related gene expression in human alveolar epithelial cells

Favipiravir'in İnsan Alveolar Epitel Hücrelerinde İnterferonla İlişkili Gen Ekspresyonuna Etkisi

Kadir Turan(Marmara Üniversitesi | Marmara University)0000-0003-4175-3423
Elif Çağlayan(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL KARTAL KOŞUYOLU YÜKSEK İHTİSAS SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)0000-0002-4249-0824
Pınar Ulupınar(MARMARA UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES)0000-0001-8046-833X
Tuğba Koçmar(MARMARA UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES)0000-0002-7831-0725
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-12-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

From this result, it was concluded that favipiravir, while primarily inhibiting the viral RdRp, may also affect cellular interferon defense mechanisms and interfere with virus replication.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Favipiravir is a nucleoside analog that is a selective and potent inhibitor of influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp).
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Key Findings & Data:In this study, we evaluated the effects of favipiravir on expression of interferon-related genes in alveolar epithelial cells (A549 and BEAS-2B) which produce various types of chemokines.
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Conclusion & Impact:From this result, it was concluded that favipiravir, while primarily inhibiting the viral RdRp, may also affect cellular interferon defense mechanisms and interfere with virus replication.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Favipiravir · interferon · CCL2

Abstract

Favipiravir is a nucleoside analog that is a selective and potent inhibitor of influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). This drug is considered to be a potential inhibitor of RNA viruses other than influenza due to its effect on the RdRp. In this study, we evaluated the effects of favipiravir on expression of interferon-related genes in alveolar epithelial cells (A549 and BEAS-2B) which produce various types of chemokines. The cytotoxicity and anti-RdRp activity of favipiravir were examined by MTT and virus minireplicon assays, respectively. Favipiravir strongly inhibited human (A/WSN/33-H1N1) and avian type of influenza (A/duck/Pennsylvania-H5N2) virus RdRp at nontoxic doses. The gene transcripts in the cells treated with different doses of favipiravir were analyzed by qPCR and immunoblotting. While CCL2, CAV1 and PRKCZ genes were among the most downregulated genes; IFNB1, IFNE and IL10 genes were the most upregulated in favipiravir-treated cells. The CCL2 and INFB1 transcripts were the most significantly differentiated by favipiravir treatment. The BEAS-2B cells were less sensitive to favipiravir-treatment compared to A549. From this result, it was concluded that favipiravir, while primarily inhibiting the viral RdRp, may also affect cellular interferon defense mechanisms and interfere with virus replication.

Özet

Favipiravir, influenza virüsü RNA bağımlı RNA polimerazının (RdRp) seçici ve güçlü inhibitörü olan bir nükleozid analoğudur. Bu ilacın RdRp üzerindeki etkisi nedeniyle influenza dışındaki diğer RNA virüslerinin de potansiyel bir inhibitörü olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmada favipiravirin çeşitli kemokinleri üreten alveolar epitel hücrelerinde (A549 ve BEAS-2B) interferon ile ilişkili genlerin ekspresyonuna etkileri değerlendirildi. Favipiravirin sitotoksisitesi MTT testi ile, anti-RdRp aktivitesi ise influenza A virüsü minireplikon modeli ile değerlendirildi. Favipiravir, toksik olmayan dozlarda (200 µg/ml’ye kadar) insan (A/WSN/33-H1N1) ve kuş tipi influenza (A/duck/Pennsylvania-H5N2) virüsü RdRp'yi güçlü bir şekilde inhibe etti. Farklı dozlarda favipiravir ile muamele edilen hücrelerdeki gen transkriptleri kantitatif polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (qPZR) ve Western melezleme teknikleri ile analiz edildi. Favipiravir etkisinde kalan hücrelerde CCL2, CAV1 ve PRKCZ ekspresyonu en çok azalan genler arasında yer alırken; IFNB1, IFNE ve IL10 ekspresyonu en çok artan genler arasında yer almışlardır. CCL2 ve INFB1 transkriptleri favipiravir etkisi ile en belirgin şekilde farklılaşan genler olmuştur. BEAS-2B hücreleri A549'a kıyasla favipiravire daha az duyarlı bulunmuştur. Elde edilen bu verilerden favipiravirin öncelikle viral RdRp'yi inhibe ettiği, bununla birlikte hücrelerin interferon savunma mekanizmaları aracılığıyla da virüs replikasyonunu etkileyebileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Turan, K., Çağlayan, E., Ulupınar, P., Koçmar, T. (2025). The effect of favipiravir on interferon related gene expression in human alveolar epithelial cells. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry, Volume: 54 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1743325

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