thymosin and Orthomyxoviridae-Infections

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the antiviral drug amantadine (AMN) administered in combination with thymosin alpha 1 (T alpha 1) and murine alpha/beta interferon (IFN) on mice infected with influenza A PR8 virus. Combined treatment with AMN and T alpha 1, for 4 days, followed by a single injection of IFN, was initiated 1 h after intranasal viral inoculation. The effectiveness of this new chemoimmunotherapy protocol was seen in the long-term survival of a high percentage of animals and was statistically significant when compared to treatment with single agents in conjunction with chemotherapy or to chemotherapy alone. In addition, chemoimmunotherapy treatment reduces the viral titre in the lungs as well as restoring the immunological parameters tested (natural killer cell activity; cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses; CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte subsets) with respect to all other groups. These results suggest the potential use of these immunomodulating agents in combination with an antiviral drug in controlling PR8 influenza virus infection.

Topics: Amantadine; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Count; Drug Therapy, Combination; Influenza A virus; Interferon Type I; Killer Cells, Natural; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Thymosin

It was shown in experiments of CC57W mice that cocarcinogenic activity of influenza A/PR8/34 virus correlates with acute or chronic pattern of infection. Prolonged persistence of the virus resulted in significant stimulation of the lung tumor incidence in infected mice. The prevention with thymosin of chronic influenza infection development in CC57W mice lead to a decrease in the incidence of lung tumors to the control level.

Topics: Animals; Cocarcinogenesis; Influenza A virus; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Thymosin; Time Factors

In experiments on C57BL and CC57W mice the acute or chronic course of experimental influenza infection has been shown to correlate with the activity of immune cytolysis. At a low level of the cytolytic activity of T-lymphocytes the prolonged persistence of influenza virus develops. The stimulation of cell-mediated immunity with thymosin prevents the development of chronic influenza infection.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Immunity, Cellular; Influenza A virus; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Stimulation, Chemical; T-Lymphocytes; Thymosin; Thymus Hormones; Time Factors