Abstract
The role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in host defense and clearance of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) from the central nervous system (CNS) was examined. NOS-1, NOS-2, and NOS-3 knockout mice were infected with VSV and were treated with either IL-12 or medium. IL-12 treatment resulted in substantially decreased VSV titers in wildtype and NOS-3 knockout mice, but had a marginal effect in the NOS-1 and NOS-2 knockout mice, NOS-1 expression in neurons was associated with survival from VSV infection. The data indicate that the enzyme activity is local, since NOS-2 expression in microglia and inflammatory macrophages and NOS-3 expression in astrocytes, endothelial cells, and ependymal cells did not compensate.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 389-395 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 258 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 5 1999 |
Keywords
- Acquired immunity
- Innate immunity
- Interleukin-12
- Nitric oxide synthase
- Viral infection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology