Immunotherapy of respiratory syncytial virus infection in cotton rats (Sigmodon fulviventer) using IgG in a small-particle aerosol.
To determine whether aerosolized IgG can be used effectively in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, cotton rats were infected intranasally with RSV and treated 3 days later with human IgG containing anti-RSV antibodies delivered in a small-particle aerosol. Pulmonary histology and virus titers were determined 24 h after IgG treatment. A single 15-min exposure to aerosolized IgG did not exacerbate pulmonary pathology and effected a 50-fold reduction in pulmonary virus titer (2.95 vs. 4.67 log10 geometric mean pfu/g for untreated controls, P < .001), which was comparable to that effected by intranasally instilled IgG (50 mg/kg) (3.24 vs. 4.67 log10 geometric mean pfu/g for controls, P < .001). A 15-min exposure to aerosolized ribavirin (20 mg/mL) was not effective in reducing pulmonary virus. This study suggests that aerosolized IgG could be useful in the treatment of RSV lower respiratory tract infections and that it compares favorably with ribavirin.
Piazza
F M
FM
Children's National Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Washington, DC 20010.
Johnson
S A
SA
Ottolini
M G
MG
Schmidt
H J
HJ
Darnell
M E
ME
Hemming
V G
VG
Prince
G A
GA
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016205:Sigmodontinae
D000336:Aerosols; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G