Protective effects of murine recombinant interferon-β administered by intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous route on mouse hepatitis virus infection

The significance of the route for administration of murine recombinant interferon-β (IFN-β) for inducing its therapeutic effects has been studied. BALB/c mice were daily injected intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously with 1.5×103, 1.5×104, or 1.5×105 IU of IFN-β, from one day before to 8th day after mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-2) challenge. All mice received IFN-β survived significantly longer than those without IFN. In the liver of those IFN-treated mice, viral growth and the histopathological damages were extremely alleviated. These results suggest that, irrespective of the differences in the route of administration, IFN-β markedly suppressed viral activity when its administration was started prior to viral infection. For clinical use, however, further studies are needed on the optimal route for administration if IFN-β is given after viral infection.