Preventive effects of early anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 treatment on Borna disease in rats.
Borna disease is a virus-induced, immunopathological encephalomyelitis in which CD4+ cells and macrophages dominate the pathological picture. However, significant numbers of CD8+ cells have been morphologically identified in perivascular infiltrates as well. To determine the contribution of different T-cell subsets to the pathogenesis of Borna disease, virus-infected rats were treated with monoclonal antibodies specific for CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Both types of monoclonal antibodies were able to significantly decrease or even prevent the local inflammatory reaction in the brain if given early during the infection. However, CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies appeared to be more effective than antibodies directed against CD4+ cells. Treatment initiated 4 days postinfection did not result in inhibition of encephalitis and disease. Virus titers in the brain of infected rats treated with T-cell-specific antibodies did not differ from titers in untreated infected control animals. The results indicate an important functional role of CD8+ cells, in addition to CD4+ cells, in the pathogenesis of Borna disease.
Stitz
L
L
Institut für Virologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany.
Sobbe
M
M
Bilzer
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001890:Borna Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes