Flavivirus infection up-regulates the expression of class I and class II major histocompatibility antigens on and enhances T cell recognition of astrocytes in vitro.
West Nile virus (WNV) infection of astrocytes can up-regulate their expression of both class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens as determined by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies specific for class I and class II MHC antigens. The up-regulation of class I MHC antigen expression could be partly caused by interferon secreted after WNV infection because the synthetic interferon inducer polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) has similar effects. In contrast the up-regulation of class II MHC antigen expression was not induced by poly I:C. The increased MHC antigen expression by WNV infection had significant effects on T cell recognition. Thus, WNV and influenza virus A/WSN double-infected astrocytes but not astrocytes infected by A/WSN alone were lysed by influenza virus-immune cytotoxic T cells. Similarly, WNV-infected astrocytes were better stimulators than normal astrocytes for a class II MHC-reactive T cell line, both in terms of T cell proliferation and interleukin release.
Liu
Y
Y
Division of Virology and Cellular Pathology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra.
King
N
N
Kesson
A
A
Blanden
R V
RV
Müllbacher
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C