title: Comparison of activation versus induction of unresponsiveness of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon acute versus persistent viral infection.
abstract: The functional status of CD4+ T cells during establishment of persistent infection with the noncytopathic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was assessed and compared to that of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Functionality of virus-specific CD4+ T cells was measured by proliferative responses, cytokine secretion, cognate help, and IFNgamma-mediated protection against challenge infection with recombinant vaccinia virus. Functional CD4+ T cells were induced early after infection and remained measurable up to 6 weeks but then were rendered unresponsive. In contrast, CD8+ T cells were functionally inactivated within 10-15 days. Importantly, functional inactivation of virus-specific CD4+ T cells during persistent viral infection seemed to be critical for the survival of the host.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Zürich, Switzerland. aoxenius@pathol.unizh.ch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oxenius
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zinkernagel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hengartner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D014764:Viral Proteins