Investigation of antiviral activity of recombinant human interferon lambda-1 in the model of adenovirus infection of the eye

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of recombinant human interferon lambda against human adenovirus serotype 5 in a culture of human conjunctival cells Chang conjunctiva clone 1-5c-4 (in vitro) and in primary culture of human corneal epithelial cells (ex vivo). Materials and methods. The study design consisted of three experimental schemes, reflecting a prophylactic and two options for a therapeutic and prophylactic treatment regimen (with the constant presence of the virus in the culture medium and with its removal after adsorption). The antiviral activity of interferon lambda was determined by the number of viable cells after exposure to the virus (MTT test). Results and discussion. It has been established that interferon lambda has antiviral activity against human adenovirus in vitro and ex vivo under a prophylactic and therapeutic-prophylactic scheme of administration at an infection dose of 1 and 10 TCID50, but not at an infection dose of 100 TCID50. The antiviral effect of the use of interferon lambda in a therapeutic and prophylactic regimen at an infection dose of 1 TCID50 was comparable to that of interferon alpha. At the same time, interferons lambda and alpha did not have a toxic effect on the cell culture even at a concentration of 84 μg/ml and 58 μg/ml, respectively. The antiviral activity and the absence of cytotoxic action create the basis for further study of the antiviral action of interferon lambda in order to develop a drug based on it for the treatment of viral diseases of an eye surface.