Increased survival after gemfibrozil treatment of severe mouse influenza.
Gemfibrozil, an agent that inhibits production of proinflammatory cytokines in addition to its clinically useful lipid-lowering activity, increased survival in BALB/c mice that were already ill from infection by influenza virus A/Japan/305/57 (H2N2). Gemfibrozil was administered intraperitoneally once daily from days 4 to 10 after intranasal exposure to the virus. Survival increased from 26% in vehicle-treated mice (n = 50) to 52% in mice given gemfibrozil at 60 mg/kg/day (n = 46) (P = 0.0026). If this principle translates to patients, a drug already approved for human use, albeit by a different route for another purpose, might be adapted relatively fast for use against influenza, conceivably including human infection with a derivative of the avian H5N1 strain.
Budd
Alison
A
School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Alleva
Lisa
L
Alsharifi
Mohammed
M
Koskinen
Aulikki
A
Smythe
Victoria
V
Müllbacher
Arno
A
Wood
Jeff
J
Clark
Ian
I
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D053121:Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D015248:Gemfibrozil