title: Macrophage activation and host augmentation against Sendai or herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections with synthetic polypeptides in mice.
abstract: Poly-L-Lys (mean mol. wt; 12,000), poly-L-Arg (5000) and poly-L-Orn were found to activate peritoneal macrophages effectively in vivo in 14 synthetic homo polypeptides. The ability of sequential poly(L-Arg-L-X) (5000) to activate macrophages was less than that of poly-L-Arg. Neither (L-Arg)12 nor (L-Arg)6 by themselves activated macrophages, but poly-D-Arg (5000) did, as also did poly-L-Arg; this suggests that the polycationic character of poly-L-Arg plays a role in the activation of macrophages. The intranasal administration of poly-L-Lys, -L-Arg, -L-Orn, -D-Arg, all of which activated macrophages, augmented host resistance against Sendai virus infection in mice. The protection afforded by poly-L-Arg seemed to depend on its mol. wt: the order of protection was poly-L-Arg greater than (L-Arg)12 greater than (L-Arg)6. The intranasal administration of poly-L-Arg 3 days before the infection was effective, while that 1 day before infection was not. There was no difference between the groups in the titer of interferon produced by the infection of Sendai virus given with poly-L-Arg either 3 days before or 1 day before the infection. The administration of poly-L-Arg 3 days before the infection caused a significant decrease of the virus titer in the lung 6 days after the infection when compared with the control or the mice given 1 day before. The intravenous administration of 2-chloroadenosine (2-Cl-Ade), which is a selective inhibitor of macrophages, into the mice which had received poly-L-Arg intranasally 3 days before the infection caused a significant decrease in the survival rate of the mice, indicating that the macrophages activated with poly-L-Arg are likely to be an important element in affording the protection. Subcutaneous administration of poly-L-Arg revealed protective activity against systematic infection with herpes virus-type 1.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunological Science, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saiki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizukoshi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azuma
mesh_terms: D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D007372:Interferons; D000241:Adenosine