Neither B cells nor T cells are required for CNS demyelination in mice persistently infected with MHV-A59.
Murine hepatitis virus A59 infection of the central nervous system (CNS) results in CNS demyelination in susceptible strains of mice. In infected B-cell-deficient mice, demyelination not only occurred but was also more severe than in parental C57BL/6 animals. This increase may be due to the persistence of virus in the CNS in the absence of B cells. In mice lacking antibody receptors or complement pathway activity, virus did not persist yet demyelination was similar to parental mice. In infected RAG1(-/-) mice, moderately sized, typical demyelinating lesions were identified. Therefore, demyelination can occur in the absence of B and T cells.
Matthews
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AE
Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6076, USA.
Lavi
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E
Weiss
S R
SR
Paterson
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C064658:RAG-1 protein