Application of various antioxidants in the treatment of influenza.

We determined the effect of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, desferrioxamine and allopurinol on the survival of male CBA mice infected intranasally with 2-5 LD50 lung influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68. Survival for at least 20 days was observed for 45% of the mice that received 1000 U/day superoxide dismutase prepared from red blood cells on days 5, 6, 7 and 8 after infection, and 75% survival was observed for mice that received the same dose on days 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Desferrioxamine, 25 mg/kg per day and 100 mg/kg per day injected subcutaneously, resulted in survival rates of 5 and 0%, respectively, compared to 10% survival observed for saline-injected controls.

[Selective photoimmunoinactivation of influenza virus].

Antibodies to influenza virus were conjugated with hematoporphyrin. The conjugates were verified by the peak point identity in protein absorption (lambda-280 nm) of elution profiles and by the porphyrin-specific fluorescence. The antibody conjugates have been shown to preserve the specific antigenic activity tested by enzyme immunoassay.

[The effective use of superoxide dismutase from human erythrocytes in the late stages of experimental influenza infection].

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of influenza infection was studied. Bronchoalveolar lavage and serum of influenza-infected mice were shown to produce ROS following the addition of phorbole ether-PMA. The generation of ROS was the maximum in 5-6 days after virus inoculation which coincided with the beginning of animal deaths.