Avirulent Semliki Forest virus replication and pathology in the central nervous system is enhanced in IL-12-defective and reduced in IL-4-defective mice: a role for Th1 cells in the protective immunity.
Experimental infection of mice with avirulent Semliki Forest virus (SFV) has been used as a model of demyelinating disease in humans. A number of studies have shown that T cells may be important for mediating demyelination, but the role of T cells is still, unclear. Here, we show that neuronal necrosis, but not demyelination, was more severe in interleukin (IL)-12-defective mice compared with wild-type mice and this correlated with higher virus titers in the brain. In contrast, the severity of demyelination and neuronal depletion was reduced in IL-4-defective mice and this correlated with reduced brain virus titers and enhanced SFV-specific IFN-gamma production. The findings indicate that type 1 T cells play a role in the control of SFV replication but not directly in SFV-induced pathology in the CNS.
Keogh
B
B
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Atkins
G J
GJ
Mills
K H G
KH
Sheahan
B J
BJ
D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology
D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9