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Interferon-induced disease in mice and rats
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 1, 1980
Summary
High-dose interferon (IFN) administration in newborn mice and rats can cause acute illness and delayed kidney damage. Endogenous IFN from viral infections also triggers similar syndromes, preventable with anti-IFN serum.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Interferon (IFN) is crucial for antiviral immunity.
- Neonatal exposure to potent IFN preparations can lead to adverse effects.
- Viral infections in newborns can induce endogenous IFN production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of exogenous and endogenous interferon on neonatal development.
- To determine the role of interferon in post-viral syndromes in newborns.
- To explore potential therapeutic interventions for interferon-induced pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of newborn mice and rats with exogenous interferon preparations.
- Infection of mice with Lymphocyte Choriomeningitis (LCM) virus.
- Administration of anti-mouse interferon serum to infected mice.
Main Results:
- Exogenous interferon induced acute syndromes (growth inhibition, organ damage, mortality) and delayed glomerulonephritis in mice and rats.
- LCM virus infection in mice caused similar acute and late syndromes.
- Anti-interferon serum neutralized endogenous interferon and prevented syndrome development.
Conclusions:
- Large amounts of interferon, whether exogenous or endogenous, can induce organ lesions during critical developmental stages.
- Kidney damage (glomerulonephritis) may manifest weeks or months after initial interferon exposure.
- Interferon plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of early and late syndromes following viral infections in newborns.