Nitric oxide production is increased during murine vaccinia virus infection, but may not be essential for virus clearance.

Abstract

Recent reports have highlighted a potential antiviral activity for nitric oxide (NO). The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of NO in mice during vaccinia virus (VV) or herpes simplex virus type 1 infection, and to assess the role of NO in clearance of VV. Reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI; NO and its stable oxidation products, nitrite and nitrate) were significantly elevated in the plasma of mice infected with these viruses. Furthermore, spleen cells from virus-infected mice produced elevated RNI levels following stimulation in vitro with LPS. NO production during VV infection was critically dependent on the cytokines tumor necrosis factor and interferon-gamma, and on the presence of both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Treatment of VV-infected mice with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-methyl-L-arginine did not alter the course of infection, suggesting that NO may not be essential for the clearance of this virus.

• Authors: M S Rolph, I A Ramshaw, K A Rockett, J Ruby, W B Cowden
• Journal: Virology (Virology) Vol. 217 Issue 2 Pg. 470-7 (Mar 15 1996) ISSN: 0042-6822 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8610438 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Nitric Oxide
• Interferon-gamma
• Nitric Oxide Synthase

Topics

• Animals
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Ectromelia virus
• Ectromelia, Infectious (immunology)
• Female
• Interferon-gamma (physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Inbred CBA
• Nitric Oxide (biosynthesis)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Spleen (cytology)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (physiology)
• Vaccinia (blood, immunology)
• Vaccinia virus