title: Antiherpes activity of the immunomodulator OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, in immunosuppressed mice.
abstract: The antiviral activity of OK-432, an antitumor agent originating from Streptococcal preparations, against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was investigated in mice immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide (CY). Intraperitoneal administration of OK-432 to mice 1 day after treatment with 200 mg CY/kg prevented death due to HSV-2 encephalitis in a dose-dependent manner. When the immunosuppressed mice were given OK-432 prior to HSV-2 infection, both by the intraperitoneal route, virus growth in the peritoneal cavity was significantly suppressed. Following with OK-432, the number of macrophages in immunosuppressed mice was increased to a significantly greater extent than the numbers of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The intrinsic antiviral activity of macrophages against HSV-2 as well as the natural killer (NK) activity against YAC-1 target cells was significantly enhanced by OK-432 in immunosuppressed mice.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010844:Picibanil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D010844:Picibanil