Anti-interferon antibody inhibits natural killer cell activity in HSV-2 genital infection in C57BL/6J mice.
We reported previously that the administration of anti-alpha/beta murine interferon antibody (anti-IFN-Ab) to C57BL/6J mice genitally infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) dramatically increases morbidity and mortality. The effect of anti-IFN-Ab is visible early postinfection and it is more evident when low virus doses are used. This report describes our study of the mechanism of action of anti-IFN-Ab. We found that anti-IFN-Ab did not affect peripheral multiplication of the virus at the site of infection. The T-cell cytotoxic activity of spleen and lymph node cells of HSV-2 genitally infected C57BL/6J mice was dependent on the virus dose and peaked 7 days postinfection and, therefore, was excluded as a possible mechanism for the effect of anti-IFN-Ab. Natural killer (NK) cell activity paralleled the effect of anti-IFN-Ab closely; the activity peaked early postinfection, and there was no correlation between NK cell activity and virus dose. We have now observed that in mice treated with anti-IFN-Ab, the NK cell activity was significantly lower than in mice infected and not treated with anti-IFN-Ab. The lack of effect of anti-IFN-Ab on local multiplication of HSV-2 coupled with the decrease in NK cell activity indirectly point to a non-antiviral mechanism of action of endogenous IFN in vivo.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033.
H
H
Wrzos
P L
PL
Abt
F
F
Rapp
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000254:growth & development; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000906:Antibodies; D007372:Interferons