TNF-α blockade prolongs survival of WNV infected CD11c Cre⁺<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f and <i>Ifnar</i>^−/− mice.

<p><b>A</b>. Eight- to ten-week-old CD11c Cre⁺<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f and <i>Ifnar</i>^−/− mice were injected via an intraperitoneal route with 200 µg of anti-TNF-α or isotype control MAbs one day prior to infection with 10² PFU of WNV by footpad injection. Survival differences were statistically significant between anti-TNF-α and isotype control MAb-treated CD11c Cre⁺<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f mice (***, <i>P</i><0.0001) and anti-TNF-α and isotype control MAb-treated <i>Ifnar</i>^−/− mice (***, <i>P</i><0.0001). The data is pooled from two independent experiments (<i>n</i> = 8 for all groups). <b>B</b>. Viral burden in serum. Eight- to ten-week-old CD11c Cre⁺<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f and <i>Ifnar</i>^−/− mice were injected with 200 µg of anti-TNF-α or isotype control MAb and Cre⁻<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f were left untreated one day prior to infection with 10² PFU of WNV. Infectious virus in the serum was determined from samples harvested at 48 hours post-infection. Differences were not statistically different. <b>C</b>. Eight- to ten-week-old CD11c Cre⁺<i>Ifnar</i>^f/f and <i>Ifnar</i>^−/− mice were administered 200 µg of anti-TNF-α or isotype control MAb via an intraperitoneal route one day prior to inoculation of 10² PFU of WNV by footpad injection. Glucose (GLU), AST, and ALT levels were analyzed from serum obtained 48 hours after infection. The data are pooled from two independent experiments (<i>n</i> = 8 for all groups). Asterisks indicate differences that are statistically significant (*, <i>P</i><0.05; **, <i>P</i><0.01).