Reverse transcriptase inhibitors diminish systemic proinflammatory responses to bacterial pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial infections can induce exuberant immune responses that can damage host tissues. Previously, we demonstrated that systemic Escherichia coli infection in mice causes tissue damage in the liver. This liver necrosis is associated with the expression of endogenous retroviruses, chromosomally integrated retroviruses that encode a reverse transcriptase. Furthermore, nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) completely prevent tissue damage and subsequent bacterial growth within necrotic lesions. Since liver necrosis is linked to heightened systemic inflammatory responses, we hypothesized that NRTIs diminish inflammation caused by E. coli infection and may also have broad impacts on the systemic immune response to bacterial pathogens. Here, we tested thi

SUBMITTER: Hullahalli K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11796363 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature