Effectiveness of prophylactic administration of epsilon-amino caproic acid during influenza in mice

Epsilon-amino caproic acid (E-ACA), a proteolysis inhibitor, has been found to limit the development of various forms of experimental influenza infection in mice. In sublethal infection, the extent of influenza A virus reproduction in the lungs was reduced 2 and 10 days after a single dose of E-ACA as well as 4 weeks after a 5-day prophylactic course. This correlated with the ability of proteolysis inhibitor to stimulate early production of specific serum antibodies. The favourable effect of prophylactic administration of E-ACA was especially marked in experimental lethal influenza caused by the pathogenic influenza A0/32 (H1N1) strain; a significant protection was observed from days 3 to 14 post-infection (p.i.).