Abstract

The effects of interferon-alpha A/D (IFN) therapy in combination with various immunosuppressants were investigated in a murine model of viral myocarditis. Viral infection is an important cause of morbidity in immunocompromised hosts and transplant recipients. Human IFN therapy reduces viral replication, reducing the virus-induced myocardial destruction. Groups consisting of 25 C3H/He mice received i.p. injections of prednisolone, azathioprine, 15-deoxyspergualin, cyclosporine or tacrolimus (FK506), for 16 days beginning 2 days before inoculation with 500 plaque-forming units of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). IFN, 10(4) U/g daily, was administered i.p. alone or in combination with immunosuppressants to separate groups of mice beginning on the day of viral inoculation. Animals were sacrificed at random at 4 or 10 days after inoculation with EMCV. The survival rate was significantly higher in mice treated with azathioprine, 15-deoxyspergualin, cyclosporine or FK506 in combination with IFN than in infected controls (P < .01) and was similar to the rate in the IFN monotherapy group. Survival in mice treated with prednisolone resembled that in infected controls and was significantly lower than in mice treated with IFN (P < .01). Heart weight was lower and cellular infiltration in the myocardium was reduced in mice treated with both FK506 and IFN compared with mice given IFN monotherapy. The results suggest that the effect of IFN therapy in viral myocarditis differs depending on which immunosuppressants is used. The findings suggest that the combination of FK506 and IFN may have beneficial effects in hosts with viral myocarditis by reducing cellular infiltration of heart.