Quantitative, not qualitative, differences in CD8(+) T cell responses to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus between resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible SJL/J mice.
Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection of the CNS induces an immune-mediated demyelinating disease in susceptible mouse strains and serves as a relevant infection model for human multiple sclerosis. However, it is not yet clear what immunological parameters determine the susceptibility of SJL/J mice compared to resistant mice. We have here compared the TMEV-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in highly susceptible SJL/J mice with those of highly resistant C57BL/6 mice. Our results clearly indicate that the levels of initial responses of infiltrating CD8(+) T cells to viral capsid proteins are higher in resistant C57BL/6 mice compared to susceptible SJL/J mice. However, the level of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells was much more rapidly reduced in resistant C57BL/6, resulting in a higher CD8(+) T cell level in SJL/J mice later in viral infection. The activation states, cytokine production, as well as the cytolytic function of the CD8(+) T cells were similar to each other in these mice. These results suggest that an initial induction of a vigorous CD8(+) T cell response to TMEV is critically important for the resistance to virally induced demyelinating disease.
Lyman
Michael A
MA
Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Neuroscience Institute, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Myoung
Jinjong
J
Mohindru
Mani
M
Kim
Byung S
BS
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000821:virology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000276:immunology*
D036022:Capsid Proteins