Arenavirus-mediated liver pathology: acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection of rhesus macaques is characterized by high-level interleukin-6 expression and hepatocyte proliferation.

ABSTRACT: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Lassa virus can cause hemorrhagic fever and liver disease in primates. The WE strain of LCMV (LCMV-WE) causes a fatal Lassa fever-like disease in rhesus macaques and provides a model for arenavirus pathogenesis in humans. LCMV-WE delivered intravenously or intragastrically to rhesus macaques targets hepatocytes and induces high levels of liver enzymes, interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFRI and -II) in plasma during acute infection. Proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were not detected in plasma of infected animals, but increased plasma gamma interferon was noted in fatally infected animals. Immunohistochemistry of acute liver biopsies revealed that 25 to 40% of nuc

SUBMITTER: Lukashevich IS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC140927 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature