Interleukin-18 improves the early defence system against influenza virus infection by augmenting natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity

• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.19596-0
• Publication Date: 2004-02-09T22:07:58Z
• Authors: Beixing Liu; Isamu Mori; Md Jaber Hossain; Li Dong; Kiyoshi Takeda; Yoshinobu Kimura
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; Respiratory System; Interleukin-18; Pneumonia; Nitric Oxide; Interleukin-12; 3. Good health; Killer Cells, Natural; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Disease Models, Animal; Interferon-gamma; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Influenza A virus; Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

The role of interleukin (IL)-18 in the development host defence system against influenza virus infection was investigated. IL-18-deficient (IL-18 −/− ) C57BL/6 mice that were inoculated intranasally with mouse-adapted strain human A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) showed an increased mortality occurrence pathogenic changes lung for first 3 days infection, which included pronounced growth massive infiltration inflammatory cells and elevated nitric oxide production. interferon-gamma (IFN- γ level induced respiratory tract IL-18 few after significantly lower but, contrast, IL-12 slightly higher than corresponding levels wild-type mice. Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity poorly activated. Local immune responses such as specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte antibody production upon equally well both strains These results indicate is involved controlling replication lung, especially at early stage through activation innate mechanisms IFN NK cells.