The effect of tinidazole on primary EBV infection and immunocompetence.

Abstract

Tinidazole and metronidazole have been reported beneficial in the treatment of acute anginose infectious mononucleosis. As this disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the effect of tinidazole on EBV infection of human B-lymphocytes was investigated. Tinidazole had no effect on induction of EBV determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) or DNA synthesis, while immunoglobulin synthesis was increased in the presence of the drug. Cytotoxicity directed against EBV positive cell lines and long term T-lymphocyte mediated anti-EBV memory, were not affected by tinidazole. In view of these findings we suggest that tinidazole does not act directly on the primary EBV infection in vitro. Nor do our findings indicate any adverse effects of tinidazole on the virus-host relation.

• Authors: G Marklund, I Ernberg, S Britton, C Lundberg
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases (Scand J Infect Dis) Vol. 16 Issue 1 Pg. 17-23 ( 1984) ISSN: 0036-5548 [Print] England
• PMID: 6320359 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral
• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
• Immunoglobulins
• Nitroimidazoles
• Tinidazole
• DNA

Topics

• Antigens, Viral (analysis)
• B-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology, microbiology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic (drug effects)
• DNA (biosynthesis)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (drug effects, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins (biosynthesis)
• Immunologic Memory (drug effects)
• Infectious Mononucleosis (immunology)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Nitroimidazoles (pharmacology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Tinidazole (pharmacology)