Role of cytokines in the resolution of virus infection

Abstract

Studies using cytokine-encoding recombinant vaccinia virus have highlighted important issues regarding the physiological actions of cytokines in virus infections. Cytokines of Th1 origin, namely IL-2, TNF and IFN-γ, when incorporated into the vaccinia virus genome, dramatically attenuate the growth of the vaccinia virus in both euthymic and immunodeficient athymic mouse strains. The authors discuss the importance of cytokines with direct antiviral activity, and suggest that the role of T cells elicited at the time of peak antiviral response may be to focus these factors to sites of viral infection. The antiviral activity of cytokines, perhaps in synergy, may not only control virus growth, but may also induce an antiviral state in uninfected neighbouring cells. The authors also discuss the potential use of antibodies to enhance the antiviral efficacy of cytokines which could be of future benefit to the clinical application of cytokines as therapeutic agents. Show more