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Suppression of influenza virus replication in infected mice by protease inhibitors

O P Zhirnov, A V Ovcharenko, A G Bukrinskaya

    The Journal of General Virology
    |January 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Protease inhibitors like epsilon-aminocaproic acid significantly reduced influenza virus replication in mice. This treatment prevented haemagglutinin cleavage, leading to rapid virus clearance and reduced lung infection severity.

    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Pharmacology
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Influenza virus replication relies on the proteolytic cleavage of haemagglutinin for infectivity.
    • Protease inhibitors are known to interfere with viral maturation processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the efficacy of protease inhibitors in suppressing influenza virus replication in a mouse model.
    • To elucidate the mechanism by which protease inhibitors affect viral haemagglutinin processing and infectivity.

    Main Methods:

    • Mice were infected with mouse-adapted influenza virus strains (A/PR/8/34 and A/Aichi/2/68).
    • Mice were treated with protease inhibitors: epsilon-aminocaproic acid or aprotinin.
    • Virus replication, titre, neuraminidase activity, and haemagglutinin cleavage were assessed in lung tissues.

    Main Results:

    • Protease inhibitor treatment led to a significant reduction (up to 100-fold) in lung virus titre and neuraminidase activity.
    • Drug-treated mice exhibited rapid viral clearance from the lungs.
    • Non-infectious virions with uncleaved haemagglutinin were predominantly synthesized in treated mice, unlike infectious virions in controls.

    Conclusions:

    • Protease inhibitors effectively suppress influenza virus replication in mouse lungs.
    • The mechanism involves the prevention of haemagglutinin cleavage, thereby inhibiting virus proteolytic activation and infectivity.

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