Borna disease virus-induced meningoencephalomyelitis caused by a virus-specific CD4+ T cell-mediated immune reaction.
After intracerebral inoculation of Borna disease virus (BDV). Lewis rats develop a persistent infection of the central nervous system which is pathohistologically represented by perivascular encephalitic lesions predominantly in the grey matter. In previous studies it has been shown that a cell-mediated immune response causes Borna disease (BD). In order to define further the immune cell responsible for this immunopathological disease, a BDV-specific T cell line, NM1, was established and cultured in vitro. Phenotypically this T cell line was characterized by cytofluorometry as CD4-positive (CD4+). Proliferation assays with syngeneic and allogeneic antigen-presenting cells, and blocking experiments with monoclonal antibodies, revealed major histocompatibility complex class II antigens to be restriction elements. After passive transfer of this virus-specific CD4+ T cell into immunosuppressed BDV-infected recipients, full-blown disease could be induced. Immunohistological examination of the cells involved in perivascular inflammatory infiltrates in BDV-infected rats and in recipients of the NM1 T cell line revealed a dominance of macrophages and CD4+ T cells. The presence of these cells in encephalitic lesions strongly suggests a delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction as the pathogenetic mechanism of BD.
Richt
J
J
Institut für Virologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, F.R.G.
Stitz
L
L
Deschl
U
U
Frese
K
K
Rott
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002460:Cell Line; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II