The influence of dual infection with herpes and influenza viruses on the differential blood cell count of mice

Abstract

Based on our previous results, which confirmed the role of latent gammaherpesvirus infection in alteration of immune homeostasis, we studied the influence of simultaneous infection with gammaherpes and influenza viruses on selected parameters of innate immunity, particularly on the subpopulations of peripheral blood cell leukocytes. The aim was to analyze changes of differential blood cell count of BALB/c mice persistently infected with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) and subsequently co-infected with influenza A virus (IAV), in comparison to mice infected with MHV-68 or with IAV only. Our results showed that ongoing gammaherpesvirus latency in mice caused a decreased number of leukocytes after acute infection with IAV in comparison to a single acute IAV infection. However, increased proportion of neutrophils was measured in peripheral blood of IAV-infected and co-infected mice. Dual infection had no effect on the proportion of monocytes or basophilic and eosinophilic granulocytes. The number of atypical lymphocytes, usually accompanying the persistent infection with MHV-68, decreased in co-infected mice as a consequence of the acute infection with IAV. Persistent infection with gammaherpesvirus may thus modulate the host immune response to influenza A virus and the acute IAV infection can influence the immune homeostasis established by latent MHV-68 infection.

Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4, prototype strain MHV-68) as an important model in global research of human oncogenic gammaherpesviruses

“…In study of simultaneous infection of mice with MHV-68 and influenza A virus (IAV), we supposed that co-infection with herpes and influenza viruses could be mutually beneficial for the host by promoting its defense against both viruses (Ančicová et al, 2015). Persistent infection with gammaherpesvirus may thus modulate the host immune response to IAV and the acute IAV infection can influence the immune homeostasis established by latent MHV-68 infection (Ančicová et al, 2016). Another study of dual infection (with latent MHV-68 and acute influenza) suggests that costimulatory pathway plays important role in controlling chronic viral infection (Fuse et al, 2007).…”