IFNG and hemophagocytic syndrome: In conclusion, inhibition of lytic viral replication was able to prevent and cure the MCMV-induced HLH-like disease in IFN-γ-deficient mice, suggesting that both the initiation and propagation of full-blown HLH in this mouse model is dependent on viral replication and sustained viremia, even though a limited set of symptoms appears to be driven by immunopathology.