Mw. Beilharz et al., LOW-DOSE ORAL TYPE-I INTERFERONS REDUCE EARLY VIRUS-REPLICATION OF MURINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN-VIVO, Journal of interferon & cytokine research, 17(10), 1997, pp. 625-630
Immunity to viral infections involves both innate and antigen-specific
immune responses, The antiviral properties of interferons (IFNs) are
part of the innate immune response. Low doses of type I IFNs (IFN-alph
a and IFN-beta) administered daily (10 IU per mouse) by the oral route
significantly reduced the early replication of murine cytomegalovirus
(MCMV) in both the spleen and liver of MCMV-infected susceptible BALB
/c mice, Significant inhibition of virus replication was observed for
two different inoculum doses of virus (2 x 10(4) pfu per mouse [0.6 LD
50] and 2 x 10(4.12) pfu per mouse [0.8 LD50]) Analysis of IFN retenti
on, using [S-35]-labeled IFN-alpha 1 compared with the nonreceptor bin
ding mutant IFN-alpha 1 (R33M) administered orally to mice, revealed b
inding of wild-type IFN-alpha 1 to several tissues, In particular, IFN
was retained by tissues proximal to lymphoid regions, including the p
osterior nasal cavity, posterior tongue, small intestine, and rectum,
These findings suggest that type I IFNs may inhibit MCMV replication b
y distal binding of the orally administered IFN to various tissues, wh
ich in turn augment the primary immune response to virus infection.