Experimental coronavirus retinopathy (ECOR): retinal degeneration susceptible mice have an augmented interferon and chemokine (CXCL9, CXCL10) response early after virus infection.
Mouse hepatitis virus induces a biphasic disease in BALB/c mice that consists of an acute retinitis followed by progression to a chronic retinal degeneration with autoimmune reactivity. Retinal degeneration resistant CD-1 mice do not develop the late phase. What host factors contribute to the distinct responses to the virus are unknown. Herein, we show that IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma act in concert as part of the innate immune response to the retinal infection. At day 2, high serum levels of IFN-gamma, CXCL9 and CXCL10, were detected in BALB/c mice. Moreover, elevated levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 gene expression were detected in retinal tissue. Although IFN-gamma and the chemokines were detected in CD-1 mice, they were at significantly lower levels compared to BALB/c mice. These augmented innate responses observed correlated with the development of autoimmune reactivity and retinal degeneration and thus may contribute to the pathogenic processes.
Detrick
Barbara
B
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-7065, USA. bdetrick@jhmi.edu
Lee
Maria Teresa
MT
Chin
Marian S
MS
Hooper
Laura C
LC
Chan
Chi-Chao
CC
Hooks
John J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology
D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; C485433:Cxcl10 protein, mouse; C485969:Cxcl9 protein, mouse; D007372:Interferons