Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Reduces Influenza A Virus–Induced Lung Inflammation

Oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species production is implicated in influenza A virus–induced lung disease. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1 is an antioxidant enzyme that may protect lungs from such damage. The objective of this study was to determine if GPx-1 protects the lung against influenza A virus–induced lung inflammation in vivo. Male wild-type (WT) or GPx-1−/− mice were inoculated with HKx31 (H3N2, 1 × 104 plaque-forming units), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)/lung compartments were analyzed on Days 3 and 7 after infection for inflammatory marker expression, histology, and viral titer. WT mice infected with HKx31 had significantly more BALF total cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes at Days 3 and 7 compared with naive WT animals (n = 5–8; P < 0.05). However, infected GPx-1−/− mice had significantly more BALF inflammation, which included more total cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, compared with WT mice, and this was abolished by treatment with the GPx mim...