Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis . Protocatechuic acid protects mice from influenza A virus infection

[tetano]

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis


. 2022 Jan 24.
doi: 10.1007/s10096-022-04401-y. Online ahead of print.
Protocatechuic acid protects mice from influenza A virus infection


Qian Wang ¹ , Xiaojuan Ren ² , Jinhua Wu ² , Hongrong Li ² , Liu Yang ² , Yan Zhang ² , Xin Wang ² , Zhicun Li ²



Affiliations

• PMID: 35067799
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-022-04401-y

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1 infection remains great challenge to public health and causes great burden over the world. Although there are anti-viral agents available, searching for effective agents to treat H1N1 infection is still in urgent because of the emergence of resistant strain. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a biological agent with multiple functions. In present study, we explored the effects of PCA on H1N1 infection. Mice infected with mouse adapted influenza strain A/Font Monmouth were administrated with PCA. The body weight change, mortality, lung index, viral titer, immune cell infiltration, and cytokine production in the lung were monitored. The activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway was investigated. PCA treatment prevented H1N1 infection-induced mice body weight loss and death. PCA reduced the lung index, viral titer, infiltration of immune cells, and cytokine level in the lung, as well as suppressed H1N1-induced TLR4/NF-κB activation. PCA protects mice against H1N1 infection and could be a potential therapeutic agent to treat influenza.

Keywords: Influenza; Mice; Protection; Protocatechuic acid.