title: Direct activation of innate and antigen-presenting functions of microglia following infection with Theiler's virus.
abstract: Microglia are resident central nervous system (CNS) macrophages. Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection of SJL/J mice causes persistent infection of CNS microglia, leading to the development of a chronic-progressive CD4(+) T-cell-mediated autoimmune demyelinating disease. We asked if TMEV infection of microglia activates their innate immune functions and/or activates their ability to serve as antigen-presenting cells for activation of T-cell responses to virus and endogenous myelin epitopes. The results indicate that microglia lines can be persistently infected with TMEV and that infection significantly upregulates the expression of cytokines involved in innate immunity (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-18, and, most importantly, type I interferons) along with upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II, IL-12, and various costimulatory molecules (B7-1, B7-2, CD40, and ICAM-1). Most significantly, TMEV-infected microglia were able to efficiently process and present both endogenous virus epitopes and exogenous myelin epitopes to inflammatory CD4(+) Th1 cells. Thus, TMEV infection of microglia activates these cells to initiate an innate immune response which may lead to the activation of naive and memory virus- and myelin-specific adaptive immune responses within the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Interdepartmental Immunobiology Center, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ilinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Girvin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000276:immunology; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; C497965:Cd86 protein, mouse; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007370:Interferon Type I; D020382:Interleukin-18; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D018664:Interleukin-12