Mechanism of recovery from acute virus infection. IX. Clearance of lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus from the feet of mice undergoing LCM virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction

D. Moskophidis, L. Fang, J. Gossmann, F. Lehmann-Grube

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

As shown previously, after inoculation into the footpad of a mouse the lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus multiplies locally. Beginning on day 6 or 7 after infection, the foot undergoes a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction which consists of two distinct phases that are mediated by CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells, respectively, and at about the same time the virus is eliminated. In general, for terminating infection of the mouse with LCM virus the CD8+ cytotoxic/suppressive T lymphocyte (CTL) is essential; we have now determined the cells that mediate control of the virus in a tissue undergoing a specific DTH reaction. Depletion, in infected mice, of all T lymphocytes by treatment with anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody prevented virus elimination from the foot, and the same was true when the CD8+ CTLs were removed. Depletion of the CD4+ helper/suppressor subset only marginally impaired the ability of the mice to rid themselves of the virus. The conclusion that here too the principal antiviral element is the CD8+ CTL was confirmed by experiments in which footpad-infected mice were adoptively immunized with virus-immune splenocytes from syngeneic mice selected for subclasses of T lymphocytes, or from mice differing in defined regions of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and also by experiments in which monocytes were virtually absent. However, CD8+ CTL alone or cells from MHC recombinant mice with identity in class I loci were never as antivirally active as unseparated splenocytes from syngeneic donor mice. Since the CD8+ cells' performance could be optimized by interleukin-2, we assume that the CD4+ T lymphocytes function as accessory cells; the same probably applies to monocytes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3305-3316
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of General Virology
Volume70
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DTH reaction
  • LCMV
  • T lymphocytes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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