The role of CD4+ T cells in cell-mediated immunity to LCMV: studies in MHC class I and class II deficient mice
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Parameters of the virus-specific T-cell response were analysed in order to dissect the contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to cell-mediated immunity to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. In MHC class II deficient mice, initial T-cell responsiveness was not impaired, but virus clearance was delayed, and virus-specific Td activity declined more rapidly. Furthermore, class I restricted Tc memory appeared to be impaired in these mice. To directly evaluate the role of CD4+ cells in virus clearance and T-cell mediated inflammation, MHC class I deficient mice were also studied. No virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction was detected following infection of the footpad, and only a few mice died from intracerebral challenge. However analysis of markers of T-cell activation as well as direct evaluation of CSF inflammation unveiled a low degree of T-cell activation and a chronic cellular exudate. This low-grade response was associated with some degree of virus control as organ titres were lower in these animals than in matched T-cell deficient nu/nu mice or class I deficient mice treated with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. This confirms that CD4+ cells are not needed to induce a virus-specific CD8+ T-cell response, but our findings strongly suggest that CD4+ T cells are critical for maintaining full antiviral immunity. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells per se have a low potential for mediating virus-specific inflammation that is associated with a low degree of virus control.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 373-82 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 0300-9475 |
Publication status | Published - 1994 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Animals; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immunity, Cellular; Immunophenotyping; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Nude; Spleen; beta 2-Microglobulin
ID: 9640285