ISOENZYMIC SPECIFICITY OF IMPAIRED CLEARANCE IN MICE INFECTED WITH RILEY VIRUS

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 13, 1965
PubMed

Insights

Riley virus infection impairs the plasma clearance of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5 in mice. This selective clearance defect explains the elevated lactate dehydrogenase-5 activity observed in infected animals.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Riley virus infection in mice leads to elevated plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity.
  • Lactate dehydrogenase exists in various isoenzyme forms, with LDH-5 often implicated in cellular stress and disease states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo clearance mechanisms of specific lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes during Riley virus infection.
  • To determine if altered isoenzyme clearance contributes to the observed increase in plasma LDH activity.

Main Methods:

  • Purified lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme No. 5 and No. 1 were administered intravenously to mice.
  • Plasma concentrations of these isoenzymes were monitored over time in both infected and control mice.
  • The rate of clearance was calculated based on plasma decay curves.

Main Results:

  • The plasma clearance of purified lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme No. 5 was significantly impaired in mice infected with Riley virus.
  • In contrast, the clearance of purified lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme No. 1 remained unchanged in infected mice compared to controls.
  • This selective impairment in LDH-5 clearance directly correlates with the elevated LDH-5 activity found in the plasma of infected mice.

Conclusions:

  • Riley virus infection specifically affects the catabolism or removal of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme No. 5 from circulation.
  • The impaired clearance of LDH-5, not an increase in its production, is the primary reason for elevated LDH-5 plasma levels during Riley virus infection.
  • These findings highlight a specific host-pathogen interaction impacting enzyme homeostasis.