Early activation of the host complement system is required to restrict central nervous system invasion and limit neuropathology during Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection.
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a mosquito-borne RNA virus of the genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae, that is responsible for sporadic outbreaks in human and equid populations in Central and South America. In order to ascertain the role that complement plays in resolving VEEV-induced disease, complement-deficient C3(-/-) mice were infected with a VEEV mutant (V3533) that caused mild, transient disease in immunocompetent mice. In the absence of a functional complement system, peripheral inoculation with V3533 induced much more severe encephalitis. This enhanced pathology was associated with a delay in clearance of infectious virus from the serum and more rapid invasion of the central nervous system in C3(-/-) mice. If V3533 was inoculated directly into the brain, however, disease outcome in C3(-/-) and wild-type mice was identical. These findings indicate that complement-dependent enhancement of peripheral virus clearance is critical for protecting against the development of severe VEEV-induced encephalitis.
Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Christopher B
CB
Brooke
Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Alexandra
A
Schäfer
UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Glenn K
GK
Matsushima
Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Laura J
LJ
White
Carolina Vaccine Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Robert E
RE
Johnston
D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000172:deficiency; D003182:Complement C5 / Q000276:immunology; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000276:immunology*; D004685:Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003176:Complement C3; D003182:Complement C5