Synergistic Effects of Tacrolimus and Human Interferon-a AID

The effects of interferon-a A/D (IFN) therapy in combination with various immunosuppressants were investigated in a mu-rine model of viral myocarditis. Viral infection is an important cause of morbidity in immunocompromised hosts and trans-plant recipients. Human IFN therapy reduces viral replication, reducing the virus-induced myocardial destruction. Groups consisting of 25 C3H/He mice received i.p. injections of pred-nisolone, azathioprine, 1 5-deoxyspergualin, cyclosporine or ta-crolimus (FK506), for 16 days beginning 2 days before inocu-lation with 500 plaque-forming units of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). IFN, iO U/g daily, was administered i.p. alone or in combination with immunosuppressants to separate groups of mice beginning on the day of viral inoculation. Animals were sacrificed at random at 4 or 10 days after inoculation wit