title: Antiviral activity of recombinant rat interferon gamma in immunologically impaired and immunosuppressed rats.
abstract: Treatment of Wag/Rij rats with recombinant rat interferon gamma (rRIF-gamma) resulted in complete protection against a lethal pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection. To investigate whether the protection resulted from direct inhibition of virus replication or from a stimulation of immune mechanisms, we tested rRIF-gamma activity in naturally immunocompromised and artificially immunosuppressed rats. The antiviral effect of rRIF-gamma was not abolished in silica- and carrageenan-treated, phagocyte-depleted rats. Immunologically immature newborn and T cell-deficient nude rats were also protected under a regime of rRIF-gamma treatment as well as whole body gamma-irradiated rats. Sera of the protected rats were devoid of PRV-neutralizing antibodies. Our results indicate that the protective activity of rRIF-gamma is based on direct inhibition of virus replication; stimulation of the immune system is not required but may be responsible for protection upon challenge several weeks after infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, State University Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Schijns
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Borman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schellekens
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011557:Pseudorabies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma