BACKGROUND: Viral myocarditis has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy as well as acute myocarditis. Among the antiviral therapies, interferons (IFNs) have been widely studied and become very important in clinical practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the possibilities of IFN therapy in viral myocarditis, we analyzed the effects of recombinant murine interferon (mIFN)-gamma and natural mIFN-alpha/beta by the intranasal and intramuscular routes on the development of acute murine myocarditis caused by encephalomyocarditis virus. Both mIFN-gamma and mIFN-alpha/beta treatment by either route significantly increased the survival rate; none of the mIFN-gamma-treated mice died. The effect of mIFN-gamma was significantly greater than that of mIFN-alpha/beta. Furthermore, intranasal administration of mIFN-gamma significantly suppressed virus replication and inflammation in the heart. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that IFN therapy, especially intranasal administration of IFN-gamma, dramatically improved the prognosis of acute murine viral myocarditis by suppressing virus replication and raises the possibility of antiviral therapy with IFN-gamma in patients with acute myocarditis.
BACKGROUND:Viral myocarditis has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy as well as acute myocarditis. Among the antiviral therapies, interferons (IFNs) have been widely studied and become very important in clinical practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the possibilities of IFN therapy in viral myocarditis, we analyzed the effects of recombinant murine interferon (mIFN)-gamma and natural mIFN-alpha/beta by the intranasal and intramuscular routes on the development of acute murinemyocarditis caused by encephalomyocarditis virus. Both mIFN-gamma and mIFN-alpha/beta treatment by either route significantly increased the survival rate; none of the mIFN-gamma-treated mice died. The effect of mIFN-gamma was significantly greater than that of mIFN-alpha/beta. Furthermore, intranasal administration of mIFN-gamma significantly suppressed virus replication and inflammation in the heart. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that IFN therapy, especially intranasal administration of IFN-gamma, dramatically improved the prognosis of acute murineviral myocarditis by suppressing virus replication and raises the possibility of antiviral therapy with IFN-gamma in patients with acute myocarditis.
Authors: Mary K McCarthy; Megan C Procario; Nele Twisselmann; J Erby Wilkinson; Ashley J Archambeau; Daniel E Michele; Sharlene M Day; Jason B Weinberg Journal: J Virol Date: 2014-10-15 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Morgana K B Prado; Caroline Fontanari; Camila O S Souza; Luiz G Gardinassi; Karina F Zoccal; Francisco W G de Paula-Silva; Ana P F Peti; Carlos A Sorgi; Alyne F G Meirelles; Simone G Ramos; José C Alves-Filho; Lúcia H Faccioli Journal: Biomolecules Date: 2020-06-05