title: An essential role for type 1 interferon-gamma in terminating persistent viral infection.
abstract: The mechanism(s) by which infectious material is cleared by the host is an area of intensive study. This is especially so with the realization that persistent viral infection is a cause of chronic disease in humans and presents a major health problem. We have used the murine model of infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus to evaluate immune clearance. Mice with a targeted disruption of the IFN-gamma gene mount effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses after an acute viral challenge and clear virus. CD4+ T cells are not required but CD8+ T cells are mandatory. In contrast, CTL from mice with targeted disruption of the IFN-gamma gene are unable to clear virus from persistently infected mice. In addition to the requirement for IFN-gamma, CD4+ T cells are essential for maintaining a CD8(+)-mediated cure of persistent viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tishon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lewicki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Von Herrath
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oldstone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma