title: Interferons, interferon inducers, and interferon-ribavirin in treatment of flavivirus-induced encephalitis in mice.
abstract: We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of interferon alpha-2b, pegylated interferon alpha-2b, poly(I. C), and Ampligen against Modoc virus encephalitis in an animal model for flavivirus infections. All compounds significantly delayed virus-induced morbidity (paralysis) and mortality (due to progressive encephalitis). Viral load (as measured on day 7 postinfection) was significantly reduced by 80 to 100% in the serum, brain, and spleen in mice that had been treated with either interferon alpha-2b, pegylated interferon alpha-2b, poly(I. C), or Ampligen. We also studied whether a combination of interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin (presently the standard therapy for the treatment of infections with hepatitis C virus) would be more effective than treatment with interferon alone. However, ribavirin did not enhance the inhibitory effect of interferon therapy in this animal model for flavivirus infections.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leyssen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drosten
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paning
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charlier
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paeshuyse
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neyts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011072:Poly U / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011072:Poly U; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C047490:poly(I).poly(c12,U); D011070:Poly I-C; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a