Zanamivir Diminishes Lung Damage in Influenza A Virus-infected Mice by Inhibiting Nitric Oxide Production

• DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11263
• Publication Date: 2018-05-02T07:53:07Z
• Authors: Birutė Zablockienė; Tomas Kačergius; Arvydas Ambrozaitis; Edvardas Žurauskas; Maksim Bratchikov; Laimutė Jurgauskienė; Rolandas Zablockis; Stefan Gravenstein
• Keywords: Zanamivir

Background/Aim: Severe pulmonary influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes lung inflammation and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), leading to overproduction (NO). We studied whether zanamivir reduces through inhibition NO production in mice. Materials Methods: treated IAV-infected mice daily with intranasal zanamivir. Controls were infected either placebo-treated or untreated, not placebo-treated. Mice weighed daily. After euthanasia on day 3, lungs excised bronchoalveolar lavage was performed fluid nitrite concentration determined. Lungs analyzed microscopically. iNOS IAV RNA levels assessed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: undergoing treatment had less weight loss, viral replication, damage, as well significant reductions local mRNA synthesis (p<0.05). Conclusion: Zanamivir is associated an anti-inflammatory effect mediated