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.
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-7065, USA. bdetrick@jhmi.edu
Barbara
B
Detrick
Maria Teresa
MT
Lee
Marian S
MS
Chin
Laura C
LC
Hooper
Chi-Chao
CC
Chan
John J
JJ
Hooks
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