Pathogenesis of the Influenza Virus in Diabetes Model Mice

Abstract

When diabetes model mice and control mice were intranasally infected with the influenza virus (1 LD50), a significant higher mortality rate was observed in the diabetes model. The mortality rate became 100% at 10 days post infection. Furthermore, histopathological examination of lung tissue revealed a more enhanced inflammatory response in the diabetes model mice infected with the influenza virus. On the contrary, viral clearance from the lungs was suppressed in the diabetes model mice. The recruitment of macrophages was observed in the case of virus-infected control mice at 1 and 3 days post infection. Intriguingly, the number of macrophage in the lungs was not changed through the period of observation, thus the recruitment of macrophages in the lungs was not found in the virus-infected diabetes model mice.