Anti-inflammatory drugs decrease infection of brain endothelial cells with EHV-1 in vitro.

The research article discusses how the use of anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease the infection of brain endothelial cells with the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in an in vitro setting.

Objective of the Study

The main goal of this paper is to understand the role of anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing the infection of endothelial cells with EHV-1.

Design and Methodology

• An in vitro or laboratory-based assay was created for the experiment which used a crossover design and involved testing multiple drugs.
• The cellulose used were immortalised carotid artery endothelial cells, or primary brain endothelial cells. The presence of EHV-1 infection was marked by plaque counts per well in each cell.
• The cells were either treated with anti-inflammatory drugs or left untreated for comparison of results.

Results of the Study

• The results indicated a significant reduction in plaque count when cells were treated with anti-inflammatory drugs compared to untreated cells.
• The study also found that there was no dose-dependent effect when drug concentrations were increased up to 10 times the initial dose. This suggests that increasing the dose of the given medication did not increase its efficacy in preventing viral infection.
• The findings show that significant reduction in plaque count requires both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and endothelial cells (EC) to be treated.

Conclusion of the Study

• The in vitro study concluded that anti-inflammatory drugs decrease the infection of endothelial cells likely by reducing the contact between EHV-1 infected PBMC and endothelial cells.
• The role of adhesion molecules in this process requires further investigation as it could potentially be a promising pathway to target in the prevention or treatment of EHV-1 infections.
• The results from this in vitro study suggest that anti-inflammatory drug therapy could be clinically relevant during EHV-1 infection and viraemia in horses.