The in vivo antiviral activity of interleukin-12 is mediated by gamma interferon.
The injection of 20 ng of mouse interleukin-12 (IL-12) protects mice from a lethal infection with encephalomyocarditis virus. In vitro, an anti-gamma interferon (anti-IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody but not an anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody neutralizes the antiviral activity present in the supernatants of splenocytes stimulated with IL-12. Finally, IL-12 fails to protect 129 Sv/Ev IFN-gamma R0/0 mice against encephalomyocarditis virus infection. These results demonstrate that IL-12 exerts its antiviral activity through the induction of endogenous IFN-gamma.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma