title: IFN-gamma production and astrocyte recognition by autoreactive T cells induced by Theiler's virus infection: role of viral strains and capsid proteins.
abstract: From mice infected with the DA strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) could be detected after stimulation with TMEV infected antigen presenting cells (APCs). These CTLs killed not only TMEV infected but also uninfected syngeneic cells. Killing was associated with interferon (IFN)-gamma production in ELISPOT assays. The CTLs were efficiently induced by vaccinia virus encoding DA virus capsid proteins, but not by APCs infected with the GDVII strain of TMEV. The CTLs produced IFN-gamma in response to TMEV infected, but not uninfected, astrocytes. The CTLs could be maintained in the presence of interleukin (IL)-2. We hypothesized that, in DA virus infection, CD8+ CTLs specific for viral capsid protein could recognize self protein on oligodendrocytes by molecular mimicry, leading to demyelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 North 1900 East, Room 3R330, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2305, United States.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Libbey
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi-Warren
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fujinami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma