Nondetectable levels of interferon gamma is a critical host defense during the first day of herpes simplex virus infection

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 179 - 183
• Main Authors: Stanton, G.J., Jordan, C., Hart, A., Heard, H., Langford, M.P., Baron, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.09.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; antibody to interferon gamma; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Herpes Simplex - immunology; herpes simplex virus; Herpes simplex virus infection; Immunobiology; Immunologic Techniques; interferon gamma; Interferon Type I - physiology; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interferon-gamma - physiology; Mice; Miscellaneous; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; Time Factors; Herpes simplex virus infection; antibody to interferon gamma; interferon gamma; Antibody; Primary infection; Rodentia; Herpes; Experimental animal; Defense; Infection; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Mouse; Viral disease; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/0882-4010(87)90094-5

Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of IFN α β in resistance to primary viral infections. However, the role of IFNγ in primary infections is unclear. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether IFNγ induction was an important early host defense against primary HSV infection. The approach was to block the IFNγ response with antibodies to IFNγ prior to infection and at various times post-infection (p.i.). The data indicates that treatment of mice with anti-IFNγ prior to infection enhanced mortality (89% vs 37%). Anti-IFNs given at various times post HSV challenge proved most effective within the first 24 h of infection. The above results suggest for the first time that IFNγ mediates important host defense(s) early during primary HSV infection. Similar results were obtained using antibody to IFN α β .