Mouse thymic virus-mediated immunosuppression: association with decreased helper T cells and increased suppressor T cells.
Mouse thymic virus (MTV) is a herpesvirus which, when administered to newborn mice, induces an extensive but temporary thymic necrosis associated with immunosuppression. In the present study, the T cell subsets in the thymus of MTV infected newborn C57Bl/6 mice were evaluated at 4, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 84 days after infection, using labeled monoclonal anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies with two-color flow cytometry. At 7 and 14 days, the percentages of CD4+8- and CD4+8+ cells were significantly decreased whereas the percentage of CD4-8+ cell was increased. At days 28 and 56 percentages had returned to normal. These results indicate that the virus has an affinity for CD4+ T cells (helper cells and their precursors). Increased percentage of CD4-8+ T cells (suppressor cells) is also associated with depressed immune functions in MTV infected newborn mice.
Guignard
R
R
Virology Research Center, Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada.
Potworowski
E F
EF
Lussier
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte