Lymphocytic responses and the gradual hippocampal neuron loss following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).
Infection of rats with LCMV is known to cause a bi-phasic neurodegeneration characterized by acute T lymphocyte-mediated cerebellar damage, followed by gradual hippocampal neuron loss that occurs by an undefined mechanism. We found infiltration of CD8 + T-cells (but not CD4 + or NK cells) in the hippocampus which correlated with the acute phase, but not the chronic hippocampal degenerative phase. While immunosuppression of T lymphocytes protected the cerebellum and revealed the infection of corticohippocampal glia, the degeneration in the hippocampus was unabated. These data suggest that T lymphocytes control glial infection and mediate degeneration in the cerebellum but not the hippocampus.
Pearce
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BD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. bpearce@emory.edu
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Pisell
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TL
Miller
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AH
D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein