Mouse hepatitis virus infection suppresses modulation of mouse spleen T-cell activation.
Natural infection by mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) can affect interpretation of immunological studies in mice. MHV, a collective term describing a group of corona viruses, is found in natural infections in over 70% of laboratory mouse populations in the U.S.A. and Canada. Natural outbreaks of MHV in our animal colony afforded us the opportunity to study MHV-induced immunosuppression as well as the effects of MHV infection on neurotransmitter immunomodulation. Concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated DNA synthesis by spleen T lymphocytes from MHV-infected mice was 20-50% that of non-infected mice. The MHV infection also altered neurotransmitter modulation of spleen T-lymphocyte activation. In contrast to noradrenaline ablation of Con A-activated DNA synthesis by spleen lymphocytes from non-infected mice, DNA synthesis by the infected group was not inhibited by noradrenaline or dibutyryl-cAMP. These effects of MHV infection were specific for spleen T lymphocytes since MHV infection did not alter Con A stimulation of thymocytes, lipopolysaccharide stimulation of spleen B lymphocytes, or noradrenaline inhibition of thymocyte and B-cell DNA synthesis. MHV infection also did not alter spleen T-lymphocyte subset proportions. Thus, MHV infection inhibits spleen T-lymphocyte activation and blocks in vitro catecholamine and cAMP regulation of spleen T-cell activation but does not affect activation of thymic cells or spleen B cells.
Cook-Mills
J M
JM
Center for Research in Periodontal Diseases and Oral Molecular Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
Munshi
H G
HG
Perlman
R L
RL
Chambers
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D003208:Concanavalin A; D004247:DNA; D009638:Norepinephrine