title: Independent roles of perforin, granzymes, and Fas in the control of Friend retrovirus infection.
abstract: Cytotoxic T-cells (CTL) play a central role in the recovery of mammalian hosts from retroviral infections. However, the molecular pathways that mediate the antiretroviral activity of CTL are still elusive. Here we explore the protective role of the two main cytolytic pathways of CTL, that is, granule exocytosis and Fas/Fas ligand (FasL), in acute and persistent Friend retrovirus (FV) infection of mice. For this purpose, we have used mutant mouse strains with targeted gene defects in one or more components of the two cytolytic pathways including perforin, granzyme A, granzyme B, Fas, and FasL. The important function of CTL in resistance of C57BL/6 (B6) mice to FV is emphasized by the finding that depletion of CD8+ T-cells prior to virus infection resulted in severe splenomegaly and high viral loads in blood and spleen tissue. Analysis of primary FV infection in knockout mice revealed that acute infection was readily controlled in the absence of functional Fas. Most notably in the presence of Fas/FasL each of the three effector molecules of the exocytosis pathway (i.e., perforin, granzyme A, and granzyme B) was capable on its own to mediate suppression of virus replication and protection from leukemia. However, triple knockout mice lacking perforin and the two granzymes were fully susceptible to FV-induced leukemia. In contrast to acute infection the Fas/FasL pathway was mandatory for effective control of FV replication during persistent infection. These findings suggest novel pathways of CTL-mediated viral defense and contribute towards a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CTL activity in retroviral infections.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie des Universitätsklinikums Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gennadiy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zelinskyy
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balkow
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schimmer
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schepers
authors.forename: Markus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dittmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005622:Friend murine leukemia virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D053804:Granzymes; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D013163:Splenomegaly; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D054353:Perforin; D053804:Granzymes; C509214:Gzmb protein, mouse; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases