Protective Effect of Passive Immunization against TNF-α in Mice Infected with Sendai Virus

Abstract

TNF-α has been reported to be induced in mice infected with Sendai virus. We evaluated the role of TNF-α in the virus infection. TNF-α was induced locally in proportion to virus titers in the lung. The activity was correlated with suppression of body weight gain. Passive immunization against TNF-α improved body weight gain and ameliorated pneumonic lesions in infected mice, and prevented them from lethal infection, but lung virus titers were not affected by passive immunization. These results indicate that Sendai virus-induced emaciation, pneumonic lesions and death were mediated by TNF-α.