Virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH): Cells mediating lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific DTH reaction in mice

We had previously shown that the local lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in mice consists of two well delineated phases that are mediated by CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, respectively. These findings have been confirmed and extended by showing that the first CD8⁺ cell-dependent part of the response was enhanced by either the presence of CD4⁺ cells or systemic treatment with IL-2 and that it developed in the absence of detectable numbers of mononuclear phagocytes, whereas the later CD4⁺ cell part required monocytes or related elements. Furthermore, in the DTH reaction that was elicited with noninfectious viral Ag in mice previously immunized by infection, only the CD4⁺ cells participated. Thus, the two phases of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis-viral DTH reaction are principally different, which has to be taken into account when trying to assess the relevance of DTH during this virus infection.