Antigen presenting and effector cell cluster formation in BALB/c mice during mousepox: model studies*.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to access APC-effector cell cluster formation in genetically susceptible BALB/c (H-2(d) ) mice infected with highly virulent Moscow strain of ectromelia virus (ECTV-MOS) and estimate of lymphocyte activation based upon expression of CD62L and CD44 molecules.


RESULTS
APC-effector cell clusters were obtained by enzymatic digestion from draining lymph nodes (DLNs) and spleens of BALB/c mice. We found that APCs infected with ECTV-MOS form unstable clusters with effector cells, and thus may diminish T-cell activation at the early stage of mousepox. Different types of effector cells including T-cell subsets (CD4(+) and CD8(+) ), B cells and polymorphonuclear cells colocalize within individual clusters. Increase in CD19(+) B cells within APC-effector cell clusters during severe clinical mousepox may reflect B-cell activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our studies indicated vigorous changes in APC-effector cell cluster formation in genetically susceptible BALB/c mice during mousepox (up to 2 weeks). ECTV-MOS can modulate APC interactions with effector cells and consequently may impair T-cell activation probably owing to unstable cluster formation and/or subsequent weak stimulation by infected APCs at the early stages of mousepox.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of APC-effector cell cluster formation in BALB/c mice during mousepox. It gives us a new light on the mutual cell-cell interactions and development of the immune response during ECTV-MOS infection.
Szulc
L
L
Division of Immunology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Warsaw, Poland.
Boratynska
A
A
Martyniszyn
L
L
Niemialtowski
M G
MG
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004481:Ectromelia virus / Q000276:immunology*; D004482:Ectromelia, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
C476399:Cd44 protein, mouse; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D019041:L-Selectin