title: Ribavirin attenuates the respiratory immune responses to influenza viral infection in mice.
abstract: Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that is used against RNA and DNA viruses and has been reported to inhibit infection by influenza A and B virus in vitro and in vivo. Studies have shown that ribavirin can lower convalescent antibody titers in young children hospitalized with influenza. Here, we report that ribavirin administration in juvenile mice significantly attenuated respiratory immune responses, production of total IgA and hemagglutinin (HA)-specific secretory IgA responses on the mucosal surface. In contrast, systemic IgG and IgA responses were not affected. Ribavirin significantly suppressed toll-like receptor 2 and 4 expression in the lung and decreased the level of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in lung tissues of mice infected with influenza virus. Our findings suggest ribavirin appears to be able to inhibit viral replication and, as a result, TLR and cytokine expression are not up-regulated, attenuating inflammation as well as the respiratory tract's immune response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shang-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ni
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Feng-Xue
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd., San Yuanli St., Bai Yun Dist., Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. xupeiping@gzucm.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Pei-Ping
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; C493486:Tlr2 protein, mouse; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C577686:interleukin-6, mouse; D012254:Ribavirin; D007371:Interferon-gamma