Potential Activity of Camel Milk-Amylase and Lactoferrin against Hepatitis C Virus Infectivity in HepG2 and Lymphocytes

Background and Aims: To exploring which camel milk proteins, have the ability to inhibit and/or blocking the hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry and replication inside the cells system.

Methods: Using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and hepG2 cells system, three experiments were setup: 1) cells treated with amylase or lactoferrin then infected with HCV; 2) HCV treated with amylase or lactoferrin then used to infect the cells; and 3) HCV infected cells were treated with amylase or lactoferrin. RNA was extracted, RT-PCR and nested PCR were run, in addition to immune-staining the cells to localize the viral molecule within the cells foci.

Results: Camel milk-amylase and lactoferrin were in vitro tested the ability to inhibit the HCV entry and replication inside the human peripheral blood and hepG2. Amylase could not able to inhibit nor blocking the viral replication. However, lactoferrin demonstrate a clear ability to inhibit the viral entry into both cells system when pre-interact with the virus, but fault to protect the cells before infection. The virus replication inside the cells was completely blocked only when the infected cells were treated with lactoferrin.

Conclusions: Camel lactoferrin was demonstrated a remarked in vitro ability to completely inhibit the HCV entry into PBMC, hepG2 and replication inside those cells system.