Role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in murine resistance to street rabies virus.
Mice of the SJL/J and BALB/cByJ inbred strains are naturally resistant to street rabies virus (SRV) injected via the intraperitoneal route. To determine the cellular mechanism of resistance, monoclonal antibodies specific for CD4+ or CD8+ subsets of T cells were used to deplete the respective cell population in SRV-infected animals. Elimination of CD4+ T-helper cells abrogated the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) neutralizing antibodies in response to rabies virus infection and reversed the resistant status of SJL/J and BALB/cByJ mice. In contrast, in vivo depletion of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells had no measurable effect on host resistance to SRV. These results indicate that serum neutralizing antibodies of the IgG class are a primary immunological mechanism of defense against rabies virus infection in this murine model of disease. CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which have been shown to transfer protection in other rabies virus systems, appear to have no role in protecting mice against intraperitoneally injected SRV.
Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana 59840.
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Perry
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Lodmell
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M