Summary
The change in activity of several enzymes in the plasma of guinea pigs infected with Junín virus (experimental hemorrhagic fever) has been measured. Acid protease, and “acid” and “alkaline” phosphatase activities were observed to increase systematically from the 6th day of infection on, reaching maximum values on the 11th and 12th days,i.e. when the animals entered into shock and died shortly thereafter. Simultaneously, the white cell count dropped to very low values.
It is suggested that those enzymes whose increased activities can be detected in the plasma of infected animals originate in the lysosomes poured into the circulation by leukocytes (neutrophils and eosinophils), which undergo massive break-age during the viral infection.
It is hypothesized that proteolytic enzymes may participate in some of the processes occurring during the infection, which lead to the formation of necrotic lesions.
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This work was supported by grants of the Consejo Nacional de Investigacions Científicas y Técnicas (C.N.I.C.T.) and the Comisión Nacional para Estudio y Lucha contra la Fiebre Hemorrágica Argentina, Secretary of State of Public Health, of Argentina.
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Kierszenbaum, F., Budzko, D.B. & Parodi, A.S. Alterations in the enzymatic activity of plasma of guinea pigs infected with junín virus. Archiv f Virusforschung 30, 217–223 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250191
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250191