Dp. Skoner et al., Evidence for cytokine mediation of disease expression in adults experimentally infected with influenza A virus, J INFEC DIS, 180(1), 1999, pp. 10-14
The roles of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in mediating the symptoms and sign
s of influenza A infection were examined. Adults were intranasally inoculat
ed with a rimantadine-sensitive strain of influenza A HINI virus and treate
d with rimantadine or placebo. Viral shedding, secretion weights, symptom s
cores, and concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 in nasal lavage fluids were comp
ared between treatment groups. Viral shedding was associated with increases
in local and systemic symptoms; in expelled secretion weights, and in leve
ls of IL-6 and IL-8, Compared with placebo, rimantadine treatment reduced v
iral shedding, systemic symptoms, and levels of IL-8. Days of viral sheddin
g and IL-6 but not IL-8 concentrations were significantly correlated with t
he other measures of symptoms and signs. These data support a causal relati
onship between viral replication, cytokine production, and symptom expressi
on, and they suggest that IL-6 may have a role in mediating symptom and sig
n expression during influenza A infection.