Effect of Mannozym on the course of LCMV infection in mice with undeveloped and normal immune system.

Abstract

Adult germfree (Gf) mice with undeveloped immune system due to antigen deficient environment, conventional (Cv) mice with normal immune system and Cv suckling mice with undeveloped immune system due to age were treated intraperitoneally with Mannozym (M, 0.1% zymosan suspension) 4 days or 4 days and 1 day before the intracerebral inoculation with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). One dose of M was equal to 40 mg/kg of zymosan. In suckling mice, both applied doses of M contributed the development of fatal lymphocytic choriomeningitis after infection with 100 LD50 dose of LCMV, thus M pretreatment increased the cellular immune response to LCMV infection. M pretreatments had no influence on the course of LCMV infection either in adult Gf or in Cv mice. Spleen hypertrophy was caused by applied doses of M both in adult (Gf and Cv) and Cv suckling mice, but modulating effect on the cellular immune response manifested simultaneously only in Cv sucklings.