Role of NK cells in immunomodulator-mediated resistance to herpesvirus infection.

Seven chemically diverse biological response modifiers (BRM) were compared for antiviral activity in intact and NK cell-depleted CD-1 mice. Both spontaneous and BRM-induced splenic NK cell cytotoxicity were depleted for at least 5 days following treatment with the monoclonal antibody NK1.1. Antiviral protection of standard doses of MVE-2, pIC, pICLC, rmIFN-tau and CL246,738 against lethal MCMV or HSV-2 infections was not abrogated by NK cell depletion, demonstrating that NK cells are not required for BRM-induced antiviral activity against these herpesviruses. When mice were treated with 100,000 U of rHuIFN-alpha B/D, NK cells were not required for activity against MCMV, while at a dose of 25,000 U, NK cells appeared to be partially required against MCMV. At lower doses, the activity of rHuIFN-alpha B/D against MCMV appeared dependent upon the presence of NK cells. A similar dose-related requirement for NK cells was observed for activity of OK-432. Thus, at higher doses of rHuIFN-alpha B/D and OK-432, elements of the natural immune system in addition to or other than NK cells are apparently involved, while at lower doses NK cells appear to play a more important role in antiviral protection against MCMV infection.