Increased survival after gemfibrozil treatment of severe mouse influenza

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 Aug;51(8):2965-8. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00219-07. Epub 2007 Jun 11.

Abstract

Gemfibrozil, an agent that inhibits production of proinflammatory cytokines in addition to its clinically useful lipid-lowering activity, increased survival in BALB/c mice that were already ill from infection by influenza virus A/Japan/305/57 (H2N2). Gemfibrozil was administered intraperitoneally once daily from days 4 to 10 after intranasal exposure to the virus. Survival increased from 26% in vehicle-treated mice (n = 50) to 52% in mice given gemfibrozil at 60 mg/kg/day (n = 46) (P = 0.0026). If this principle translates to patients, a drug already approved for human use, albeit by a different route for another purpose, might be adapted relatively fast for use against influenza, conceivably including human infection with a derivative of the avian H5N1 strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Gemfibrozil / administration & dosage
  • Gemfibrozil / therapeutic use*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / mortality
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / drug effects*
  • Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / pathogenicity
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / mortality*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Gemfibrozil