INDUCTION OF MACROPHAGE PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY BY MURINE HEPATITIS-VIRUS STRAIN-3 - ROLE OF TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION

The induction of a unique macrophage procoagulant molecule by murine h epatitis virus strain 3 correlates with the severity of viral hepatiti s. The role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the signalling pathway lead ing to procoagulant expression was studied. Murine hepatitis virus str ain 3 initiated a rapid increase in phosphotyrosine accumulation. Tyro sine kinase inhibition precluded this increase and abrogated expressio n of the virus-induced procoagulant mouse fibrinogen-like protein (mus fiblp) gene. These findings suggest that manipulation of this signalli ng pathway in vivo might represent a novel approach to treating this d isease.