Conclusion
This study proves that both matrine and icariin have inhibitory effects on BVDV replication by activating IFN production and the IFN signalling pathway. The finding is promising and should open up the possibility of larger-scale in vitro research followed by in vivo experiments evaluating matrine and icariin as therapeutic agents in BVD cases.
Material and methods
A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to analyse the toxicity of matrine and icariin to Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. The model of MDBK cells infected with BVDV was utilised to uncover the antiviral mechanism of matrine and icariin, which along with their immunoregulatory ability was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and ELISA.
Methods
A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to analyse the toxicity of matrine and icariin to Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. The model of MDBK cells infected with BVDV was utilised to uncover the antiviral mechanism of matrine and icariin, which along with their immunoregulatory ability was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and ELISA.
Results
The results showed that matrine and icariin can significantly inhibit the gene expression level of the BVDV 5' untranslated region through various pathways. Both matrine and icariin can statistically upregulate the gene expression level of interferon alpha, interferon beta (IFN-β), toll-like receptor 3, retinoic acid-inducible gene I and interferon regulatory factor 3, and raise the concentration of IFN-β after BVDV infection.