title: Functional expression of chemokine receptor CCR5 on CD4(+) T cells during virus-induced central nervous system disease.
abstract: Intracranial infection of C57BL/6 mice with mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) results in an acute encephalomyelitis followed by a demyelinating disease similar in pathology to the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). CD4(+) T cells are important in amplifying demyelination by attracting macrophages into the central nervous system (CNS) following viral infection; however, the mechanisms governing the entry of these cells into the CNS are poorly understood. The role of chemokine receptor CCR5 in trafficking of virus-specific CD4(+) T cells into the CNS of MHV-infected mice was investigated. CD4(+) T cells from immunized CCR5(+/+) and CCR5(-/-) mice were expanded in the presence of the immunodominant epitope present in the MHV transmembrane (M) protein encompassing amino acids 133 to 147 (M133-147). Adoptive transfer of CCR5(+/+)-derived CD4(+) T cells to MHV-infected RAG1(-/-) mice resulted in CD4(+)-T-cell entry into the CNS and clearance of virus from the brain. These mice also displayed robust demyelination correlating with macrophage accumulation within the CNS. Conversely, CD4(+) T cells from CCR5(-/-) mice displayed an impaired ability to traffic into the CNS of MHV-infected RAG1(-/-) recipients, which correlated with increased viral titers, diminished macrophage accumulation, and limited demyelination. Analysis of chemokine receptor mRNA expression by M133-147-expanded CCR5(-/-)-derived CD4(+) T cells revealed reduced expression of CCR1, CCR2, and CXCR3, indicating that CCR5 signaling is important in increased expression of these receptors, which aid in trafficking of CD4(+) T cells into the CNS. Collectively these results demonstrate that CCR5 signaling is important to migration of CD4(+) T cells to the CNS following MHV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92697-3900, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019713:Receptors, CCR5