title: Natural killer cell activity in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice.
abstract: We have investigated the induction and role of natural killer (NK) activity in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-infected beta 2-microglobulin-deficient (beta 2m-) mice. We demonstrate that LCMV infection is more effective than polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at stimulating NK activity in beta 2m- mice. In addition, beta 2m- NK cells respond poorly to in vitro treatment with IL-12. The target specificity of the virally induced NK cells is similar to that previously reported for chemically induced beta 2m- NK cells. In both cases they can lyse YAC-1 tumor cells but are unable to kill beta 2m- or beta 2m+ T cell blasts. We have also found that the time course of induction of NK and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by LCMV in beta 2m- mice is delayed compared with normal mice. Maximal NK and CTL activity is attained at day 8 and 10 post-infection respectively in beta 2m- mice compared with day 4 and 6-8 in B6 mice. Whereas normal mice die approximately 7 days following intracranial infection with LCMV, the course of disease in beta 2m- mice is protracted and characterized by a marked loss of body weight. We show that although the CD4+ CTL response in these mice is intimately involved in mediating weight loss, the virus-induced NK cells do not appear to play a role in the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7290, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zajac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pederson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frelinger
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D015431:Weight Loss; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D018664:Interleukin-12; D011070:Poly I-C