The physiologic dimeric form of gal-1 is required for fusion inhibition because a monomeric gal-1 mutant had no inhibitory effect on cell fusion. gal-1 binds to specific N-glycans on NiV glycoproteins and aberrantly oligomerizes NiV-F and NiV-G, indicating a mechanism for fusion inhibition. gal-1 also increases dendritic cell production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, known to be protective in the setting of other viral diseases such as Ebola infections.
No differences were noted in serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6. mRNA quantitation from blood clots of the same patients showed relatively elevated levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha in samples from EHF patients.