| Summary: | Lipoxygenase-derived lipid mediators can modulate inflammation and are stimulated in response to influenza infections. We report an effect of 8-lipoxygenase (ALOX8) on the recovery of mice after infection with Influenza virus X31. We compared the responses of 3- and 6-month-old mice with a deletion of <i>ALOX8 (ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup>)</i> to influenza infections with those of age-matched littermate wild-type mice (<i>ALOX8<sup>+/+</sup></i>). The duration of illness was similar in 3-month-old <i>ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup></i> and <i>ALOX8<sup>+/+</sup></i> mice. However, the 6-month-old <i>ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup></i> mice showed a prolonged state of illness compared with <i>ALOX8<sup>+/+</sup></i> mice, as evidenced by reduced body temperatures, reduced locomotor activities, and delayed weight recovery. Although residual viral RNA in the lungs at day 10 post-inoculation was significantly influenced by the age of the <i>ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup></i> mice, there were no significant differences between <i>ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup></i> and <i>ALOX8<sup>+/+</sup></i> mice within the same age groups. The levels of cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) differed significantly between 6-month-old <i>ALOX8<sup>−/−</sup></i> and <i>ALOX8<sup>+/+</sup></i> mice 10 days after viral inoculation. Our data suggest that <i>ALOX8</i> deficiency in mice leads to impaired recovery from influenza infection in an age-dependent manner.
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