The role of double-stranded RNA in induction of the acute-phase response in an abortive influenza virus infection model.
The inducer of the acute-phase response in "flu-like" viral infections is not defined. The hypothesis that virus-associated double-stranded (ds) RNA serves this function was investigated by comparison of several acute-phase responses (fever and sleep patterns, white and nucleated red blood cell levels, serum antiviral activity and ceruloplasmin) induced by the synthetic dsRNA polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly[rI:rC]) with those induced by influenza virus in rabbits. The capacity of either dsRNA or influenza virus to induce hyporesponsiveness with respect to these acute-phase parameters upon rechallenge with the same agent or cross-challenge 24 h later was also examined. Poly(rI:rC) induced only minimal hyporesponsiveness to itself but was a potent inducer of hyporesponsiveness to virus with respect to fever, sleep, leukograms, and antiviral activity. Therefore, poly(rI:rC) can substitute for virus in terms of induction of acute-phase hyporesponsiveness, suggesting that dsRNA of viral origin triggers the acute-phase response in this model of influenza.
Kimura-Takeuchi
M
M
Department of Physiology, University of Tennesse, Memphis 38163.
Majde
J A
JA
Toth
L A
LA
Krueger
J M
JM
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012890:Sleep
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D011070:Poly I-C