title: Influence of recombinant human interleukin (IL)-7 on disease progression in mice infected with Friend virus complex.
abstract: Recombinant human (rhu) IL-7 was evaluated for its influence on disease progression in mice infected with the polycythemia-inducing strain of the Friend virus complex (FVC). DBA/2 mice were injected i.v. with FVC, and then treated s.c. with rhuIL-7. IL-7 significantly prolonged survival time and decreased spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) levels, expression of SFFV mRNA and SFFV protein production in FVC-infected mice. IL-7 did not appear to directly inactivate SFFV. Although both splenic weight and cellularity in FVC-infected mice treated with IL-7 were higher than those of normal mice, they were respectively 58% and 66% lower than those of the untreated FVC-infected mice. NK-cell activity was substantially lower in FVC-infected mice than in normal mice, while IL-7 restored NK-cell activity to normal levels. IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels were markedly reduced in FVC-infected mice compared to normal mice, but treatment of FVC-infected mice with IL-7 restored these cytokine levels. While the actual mechanisms of these effects are not yet known, the results suggest the potential therapeutic efficacy of IL-7 for certain hematopoietic and viral disorders, possibly mediated through an action on accessory cells and cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5121.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruscetti
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Broxmeyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005622:Friend murine leukemia virus; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013155:Spleen Focus-Forming Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D015851:Interleukin-7; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma