title: Anti-inflammatory drugs decrease infection of brain endothelial cells with EHV-1 in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Equine herpesvirus-associated myeloencephalopathy is the result of endothelial cell infection of the spinal cord vasculature with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) during cell-associated viraemia. Endothelial cell infection requires contact between infected peripheral blood mononuclear and endothelial cells. Inflammation generated during viraemia likely upregulates adhesion molecule expression on both cell types increasing contact and facilitating endothelial cell infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluating the role of anti-inflammatory drugs in decreasing endothelial cell infection with EHV-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro assay, crossover design, multiple drug testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro modified infectious centre assay using immortalised carotid artery endothelial cells or primary brain endothelial cells with plaque counts per well as outcome. Cells were either anti-inflammatory drug treated or left untreated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reduction of plaque count when cells were treated compared with untreated cells. No dose-dependent effect when drug concentrations were increased to 10× dose. Treatment of both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and endothelial cells (EC) is required for significant plaque count reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-inflammatory drugs decrease infection of endothelial cells likely by reducing contact between EHV-1 infected PBMC and endothelial cells in vitro. The role of adhesion molecules in this process needs further investigation. In vitro results suggest anti-inflammatory drug therapy during EHV-1 infection and viraemia in horses could be clinically relevant.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Goehring
authors.affiliation: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brandes
authors.affiliation: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.affiliation: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wittenburg
authors.affiliation: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Olea-Popelka
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lunn
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soboll Hussey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: EHM; dexamethasone; firocoxib; horse; lidocaine