Interleukin-18 protects mice from Enterovirus 71 infection.

Abstract

Previous study has demonstrated that the NLRP3 inflammasome is essential for protecting murine host against Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. However, the underlying mechanism remained unknown. Here we discovered that the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18), an NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent effector protein, exhibits a protective capability against EV71 challenge. Deficiency of IL-18 in mice exacerbated EV71 infection, which was reflected by increased viral replication, elevated production of interferons (IFN-β, IFN-γ), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and chemokine CCL2,as well as decreased survival of experimental animals. Conversely, administration of recombinant IL-18 considerably restrained EV71 infection in IL-18 deficient mice. Thus, our results revealed a protective role for IL-18 against EV71 challenge, and indicated a novel therapeutic application for IL-18 in EV71 associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

• Authors: Zheng Li, Hongbin Wang, Yihui Chen, Junling Niu, Qiuhong Guo, Qibin Leng, Zhong Huang, Zhirui Deng, Guangxun Meng
• Journal: Cytokine (Cytokine) Vol. 96 Pg. 132-137 (08 2017) ISSN: 1096-0023 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28399485 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Chemokine CCL2
• Cytokines
• Immunologic Factors
• Inflammasomes
• Interleukin-18
• Recombinant Proteins
• Interferons

Topics

• Animals
• Chemokine CCL2 (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
• Enterovirus (immunology)
• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control, virology)
• Immunologic Factors
• Inflammasomes
• Interferons (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
• Interleukin-18 (administration & dosage, deficiency, genetics, therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Recombinant Proteins (administration & dosage, immunology, therapeutic use)