Evaluation of the efficacy of 2 ',3 '-dideoxycytidine against adenovirus infection in a mouse pneumonia model

The antiviral activity of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC) has been investigated in a mouse pneumonia model. Consolidation of lung, histopathological chang es, DNA synthesis as well as levels of TNF alpha were assayed. In this in v ivo model, the oral administration of ddC twice daily over 4 days, displaye d an inhibitory effect. The drug significantly reduced histopathologic resp onses. Analysis indicated that under treatment pulmonary lesions were less severe than those of untreated controls. These data confirm the in vitro ac tivity of ddC against adenovirus. Thus, ddC represents a potential therapeu tic approach for inhibiting adenovirus infection and may offer promise as a n anti-adenovirus agent for immunocompromised patients in whom serious aden ovirus infection may prove fatal. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.