Multiple deficiencies in antioxidant enzymes in mice result in a compound increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress

To examine the effect of compound deficiencies in antioxidant defense, we have generated mice (Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/−) that are deficient in Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) by breeding Sod2^+/− and Gpx1^−/− mice together. Although Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice showed a 50% reduction in MnSOD and no detectable Gpx1 activity in either mitochondria or cytosol in all tissues, they were viable and appeared normal. Fibroblasts isolated from Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice were more sensitive (4- to 6-fold) to oxidative stress (t-butyl hydroperoxide or γ irradiation) than fibroblasts from wild-type mice, and were twice as sensitive as cells from Sod2^+/− or Gpx1^−/− mice. Whole-animal studies demonstrated that survival of the Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice in response to whole body γ irradiation or paraquat administration was also reduced compared with that of wild-type, Sod2^+/−, or Gpx1^−/− mice. Similarly, endogenous oxidative stress induced by cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury led to greater apoptosis in heart tissue from the Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice than in that from mice deficient in either MnSOD or Gpx1 alone. These data show that Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice, deficient in two mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, have significantly enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by exogenous insults and to endogenous oxidative stress compared with either wild-type mice or mice deficient in either MnSOD or Gpx1 alone.     

温度对梯棱羊肚菌抗氧化酶活及其基因表达的影响

大田栽培条件下,环境温度无法精确调控,温度胁迫是影响羊肚菌生长发育的重要因素。抗氧化酶和抗氧化活性物质是羊肚菌抵御逆境胁迫的重要因子。温度胁迫下,羊肚菌菌丝会通过增加相应酶活性来减少活性氧的积累,降低对细胞的损伤。作者研究了不同温度对梯棱羊肚菌菌丝生长、抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化氢酶CAT、谷胱甘肽还原酶GR、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶GPX）活性及其基因表达和抗氧化活性物质的影响,结果显示：在5-25℃的温度区间内,随着温度的增加,菌丝生长速度加快,菌丝的老化速度也加快;对抗氧化酶活性研究发现,SOD、GPX和GR在低温下活性更高,CAT在高温下活性更高;抗氧化活性物质含量会随温度升高而增加,如还原型抗坏血酸（AsA）和还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）;温度越高,羊肚菌菌丝中H₂O₂、O^2-和丙二醛含量也随之增加。因此,在温度胁迫下,羊肚菌通过启动不同的抗氧化酶和抗氧化活性物质来减少活性氧含量,缓解菌丝损伤,本研究为探讨温度对羊肚菌种质质量的影响和栽培条件优化提供了基础数据支撑。     

Conserved organization of the murine immunoglobulin epsilon gene region: restriction endonuclease maps and switch-region nucleotide sequence

Various inbred mouse strains showed remarkable conservation of organization in the epsilon germline region as determined by restriction mapping. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) were seen in the epsilon gene region for only two of eight restriction enzymes tested. Furthermore, the RFLP did not correlate with the IgE-response phenotype for the murine strains SJL, SJA, C57BL/6, BALB/c, A/ST, and A/J. The IgE class-switch region (S epsilon) DNA from an SJL genomic clone was sequenced and was compared with S epsilon sequences from BALB/c mice. These S epsilon sequences were at least 95% homologous. Most of the S epsilon sequence differences observed between the two strains were single base pair substitutions, deletions, or insertions. The largest difference between the S epsilon sequences resulted from an insertion of seven contiguous bases seen in the SJL S epsilon region.     

维生素C对镉负荷小鼠睾丸抗氧化功能的影响*

目的: 分析镉(Cd)负荷不同时间对小鼠睾丸抗氧化酶的影响及维生素C(VC)的保护作用。方法: 清洁级雄性昆明小鼠72只分为4组(n=18):对照组、Cd组(CdCl₂ 3 mg/kg)、VC组(200 mg/kg)、VC(200 mg/kg)+ Cd(CdCl₂ 3 mg/kg)组,每日染毒1次,染毒1 d和3 d及同时补充VC保护,第1日和第3日染毒24 h后,每组取半数小鼠称重,取血清和睾丸组织;检测睾丸脏器系数,血清和睾丸组织丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),及睾丸组织谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)及总谷胱甘肽(T-GSH)。结果: 与对照组比较,Cd组1 d和3 d小鼠体重和睾丸脏器系数下降;染毒3 d,Cd组小鼠血清SOD显著降低、MDA显著升高(P＜0.05);Cd组1 d小鼠睾丸的SOD、GSH-Px、T-GSH及GSH/GSSG显著升高(P＜0.05),而3 d的上述指标均显著降低(P＜0.05),Cd组1 d和3 d MDA水平均显著升高(P＜0.05);VC处理后减轻的程度有所降低。与Cd组比较,VC+ Cd组血清SOD和MDA水平在染毒3 d变化有显著性差异(P＜0.05);VC+ Cd组在染毒1 d和3 d,小鼠睾丸的SOD、GSH-Px、T-GSH及GSH/GSSG水平变化有显著性差异(P＜0.05),VC+ Cd组在染毒3 d睾丸的MDA水平显著降低(P＜0.05)。与Cd组1 d比较,染毒3 d小鼠的血清SOD水平显著降低(P＜0.05),睾丸指标变化也有显著性差异(P＜0.05)。结论: VC处理可在一定程度上改善镉负荷小鼠的抗氧化功能,对睾丸氧化损伤具有保护作用。     

不同氧浓度下C2C12细胞的Nrf2抗氧化系统对H2O2刺激的反应*

目的:探讨不同氧浓度下小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞系(C2C12细胞)对H₂O₂刺激反应的变化及其机制。方法:小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞系(C2C12细胞),经培养复苏后,将细胞分为7组,每组设8个复孔,各组分别加入浓度为0.1 mmol/L、0.25 mmol/L、0.5 mmol/L、0.75 mmol/L、1 mmol/L、2 mmol/L的H₂O₂,分别作用1 h、2 h后测细胞活力,选择细胞H₂O₂刺激的最佳作用时间和浓度;C2C12细胞分为不同氧浓度组:21% O₂、12% O₂、8% O₂、5% O₂每组设8个复孔,12 h后,H₂O₂作用1 h,收集细胞;检测细胞Nrf2蛋白荧光和蛋白表达量,测定Nrf2和抗氧化酶SOD1、SOD2、CAT、NQO-1、HO-1、GPX-1 的mRNA表达量及细胞ROS水平。结果:选择H₂O₂作用时间相对较短的1 h和浓度0.5 mmol/L作为本实验的H₂O₂刺激条件。与21%O₂组相比,12%O₂组细胞Nrf2蛋白荧光增强,Nrf2 的mRNA和蛋白表达以及抗氧化酶SOD1、SOD2、CAT、NQO-1、HO-1、GPX-1的 mRNA表达均显著增加(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),细胞 ROS水平明显降低(P＜0.01);8%O₂组仅GPX-1 mRNA显著增加(P＜0.05),其他指标变化不大;5%O₂组细胞 Nrf2 mRNA和蛋白表达以及抗氧化酶SOD1、SOD2、NQO-1、GPX-1的 mRNA表达均明显降低(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),细胞 ROS水平则明显升高(P＜0.01)。结论:不同氧浓度下C2C12细胞中Nrf2介导的抗氧化系统对H₂O₂刺激反应不同,12 h的12% O₂浓度可促进C2C12细胞Nrf2的抗氧化作用,而5% O₂浓度的严重低氧则作用相反。     

Modulation of Glutathione and Glutathione Dependent Antioxidant Enzymes in Mouse Heart Following Doxorubicin Therapy

The toxicity of the antineoplastic agent doxorubicin (DOX) has been shown to be moderated by the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. It has been reported that acute doses of DOX can cause an inhibition of glutathione peroxidase in cardiac tissue, that may render this tissue especially susceptible to further prooxidant damage. In this study, multiple DOX treatments at a therapeutic dose were assessed for their effect on the antioxidant enzyme status of cardiac and kidney tissue. DOX was administered i.p. (5 mg/kg) once a week for two weeks to male balb/c mice. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured 1, 2 and 7 days following the second DOX treatment in both heart and kidney. Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) were also measured in cardiac tissue at these same times. Cardiac levels of GPOX and GR showed a time-dependent decrease in activity, with 10% and 12% inhibition for GPOX and GR, respectively, at 7 days post second treatment. Cardiac levels of GSH also showed a significant decrease, approximately 15%, at 7 days post second treatment. Cardiac levels of SOD and CAT as well as kidney levels of all four antioxidant enzymes were not affected by DOX treatment. These data suggest that DOX given in a therapeutic regimen, at a therapeutic dose, can cause decreases in cardiac levels of GPOX, GR and GSH that could render the heart especially susceptible to further oxidative challenge.     

The Th1/Th2 balance does not account for the difference of susceptibility of mouse strains to Theiler's virus persistent infection.

Theiler's virus causes a persistent infection with demyelination that is studied as a model for multiple sclerosis. Inbred strains of mice differ in their susceptibility to viral persistence due to both H-2 and non-H-2 genes. A locus with a major effect on persistence has been mapped on chromosome 10, close to the Ifng locus, using a cross between susceptible SJL/J and resistant B10.S mice. We now confirm the existence of this locus using two lines of congenic mice bearing the B10.S Ifng locus on an SJL/J background, and we describe a deletion in the promoter of the Ifng gene of the SJL/J mouse. We studied the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-12 in the brains of SJL/J mice, B10.S mice, and the two lines of congenic mice during the first 2 wk following inoculation. We found a greater expression of IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA in the brains of B10.S mice compared with those of SJL/J mice. Also, the ratio of IL-12 to IL-10 mRNA levels was higher in B10.S mice. However, the cytokine profiles were the same for the two lines of resistant congenic mice and for susceptible SJL/J mice. Therefore, the difference of Th1/Th2 balance between the B10.S and SJL/J mice is not due to the Ifng locus and does not account for the difference of susceptibility of these mice to persistent infection.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for susceptibility to mouse adenovirus type 1

Adult SJL/J mice are highly susceptible to mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1) infections, whereas other inbred strains, including BALB/cJ, are resistant (K. R. Spindler, L. Fang, M. L. Moore, C. C. Brown, G. N. Hirsch, and A. K. Kajon, J. Virol. 75:12039-12046, 2001). Using congenic mouse strains, we showed that the H-2(s) haplotype of SJL/J mice is not associated with susceptibility to MAV-1. Susceptibility of MAV-1-infected (BALB/cJ x SJL/J)F(1) mice was intermediate between that of SJL/J mice and that of BALB/cJ mice, indicating that susceptibility is a genetically controlled quantitative trait. We mapped genetic loci involved in mouse susceptibility to MAV-1 by analysis of 192 backcross progeny in a genome scan with 65 simple sequence length polymorphic markers. A major quantitative trait locus (QTL) was detected on chromosome 15 (Chr 15) with a highly significant logarithm of odds score of 21. The locus on Chr 15 alone accounts for 40% of the total trait variance between susceptible and resistant strains. QTL modeling of the data indicated that there are a number of other QTLs with small effects that together with the major QTL on Chr 15 account for 54% of the trait variance. Identification of the major QTL is the first step in characterizing host genes involved in susceptibility to MAV-1.     

Oxidative stress-inducible antioxidant adaptive response during prostaglandin F2alpha-induced luteal cell death in vivo

Oxidative stress-induced antioxidant adaptive response would be particularly important to cells in high reactive oxygen species (ROS) environments. We aimed to determine the dynamic adaptive response of antioxidant enzymatic systems in sheep corpus luteum (CL) during PGF2alpha-induced luteal cell death. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GSR), and in situ DNA fragmentation were determined in CL at day 10 of the estrous cycle (0 h) and at 12, 24 or 48 h after PGF2alpha injection. A decrease in plasma progesterone concentration was first observed at 6 h after treatment (P < 0.05). Apoptotic cells were rarely observed in the CL at 0 h (less than 0.7%), and their incidence increased (P < 0.01) by 12 h post-PGF2alpha (11.7%) and remained thereafter elevated through 48 h. Activities of SOD1, SOD2, GPX and GSR were not changed at any time points after PGF2alpha treatment. CAT activity increased at 12 h (P < 0.01) and at 24 h (P < 0.05) after PGF2alpha treatment as compared to that at 0 h. These findings demonstrate that PGF2alpha induce luteal cell death without depressing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. It is suggested that transient increase in CAT activity is an adaptive response of the CL to oxidative stress induced by PGF2alpha.     

Triphlorethol-A from Ecklonia cava protects V79-4 lung fibroblast against hydrogen peroxide induced cell damage

In the present study, triphlorethol-A, a phlorotannin, was isolated from Ecklonia cava and its antioxidant properties were investigated. Triphlorethol-A was found to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, and thus prevented lipid peroxidation. The radical scavenging activity of triphlorethol-A protected the Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) against cell death, via the activation of ERK protein. Furthermore, triphlorethol-A reduced the apoptotic cells formation induced by H₂O₂. Triphlorethol-A increased the activities of cellular antioxidant enzymes like, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Hence, from the present study, it is suggestive that triphlorethol-A protects V79-4 cells against H₂O₂ damage by enhancing the cellular antioxidative activity.     

Constitutive differences in antioxidant defense status distinguish alloxan-resistant and alloxan-susceptible mice.

Alloxan (AL), a potent generator of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, selectively destroys rodent pancreatic beta-cells. Alloxan-susceptible (ALS/Lt) and AL-resistant (ALR/Lt) are inbred mouse strains derived in Japan by inbreeding CD-1 (ICR) mice with concomitant selection for high or low sensitivity to a relatively low AL dose. The present study was undertaken to examine whether resistance was mediated by differences in either systemic or beta-cell antioxidant defense status. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were determined in tissues of AL-untreated ALR/Lt and ALS/Lt male mice at 7 weeks of age. Specific activities of pancreatic SOD1, GR, and GPX were significantly increased in ALR/Lt mice compared with ALS/Lt mice. ALR/Lt mice further exhibited higher levels of glutathione in plasma, blood, pancreas, and liver combined with lower constitutive lipid peroxides in serum, liver, and pancreas. These results support the hypothesis that the selection process leading to the development of an AL-resistant mouse strain entailed accumulation of a gene or genes contributing to upregulated antioxidant status.     

Effect of carbon dioxide on antioxidant enzymes and ginsenoside production in root suspension cultures of Panax ginseng

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CO₂ at various concentrations (1, 2.5 and 5%) on antioxidant enzymes and ginsenoside accumulation in Panax ginseng roots in 5 l airlift bioreactors (working volume 4 l). One and 2.5% CO₂ was beneficial for root biomass accumulation, but 5% CO₂ decreased the biomass. Ginsenoside concentration decreased with increasing concentration of CO₂. No significant difference was observed in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity between respective controls and CO₂ treated roots. Antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) including reduced ascorbate and total glutathione were induced in CO₂ exposed roots which emphasized the protective role of antioxidants against CO₂ induced stress. Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) which was induced after 15 days was significantly inhibited after 45 days. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities also increased when the roots were subjected to 1 and 2.5% CO₂ compared to the respective controls but not at 5%. A higher reduced ascorbate to oxidized (ASC/DHA) ratio in CO₂ treated root indicates the plant's ability to tolerate CO₂ stress. These observations suggest that an increase in antioxidant enzymes may affect a defense response to the cellular damage induced by CO₂. Probably, this increase could not stop the deleterious effects of CO₂ concentration on ginsenoside concentration, but reduced stress severity and thereby allowing root growth to occur.     

Pair-wise linear and 3D nonlinear relationships between the liver antioxidant enzyme activities and the rate of body oxygen consumption in mice

Relationships between the rate of body oxygen consumption (VO₂) and the liver key antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed in female CBA mice. The pair-wise linear regression and correlation demonstrated significant correlative links between VO₂ and activity of catalase (CAT). Nonlinear 3D plotting revealed a complementary pattern of CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GP) relation. CAT activity was elevated in mice with proportionally high VO₂ and superoxide dismutase (SOD), whereas GP activity was high in animals with low or disproportional VO₂ and SOD.     

The Original Pink-Eyed Dilution Mutation (P) Arose in Asiatic Mice: Implications for the H4 Minor Histocompatibility Antigen, Myod1 Regulation and the Origin of Inbred Strains

Allelic variation of the mouse pink-eyed dilution (p) gene in common laboratory strains and wild mice was examined by Southern blot and by polymerase chain reaction. In these assays the original p mutation allele found in strains SJL/J, 129/J, B10.129(21m), P/J and FS/Ei most closely matches an Asian Mus musculus allele, confirming anecdotal accounts of the Asian origin of this mutation. In contrast, the wild-type allele found in other common laboratory strains was apparently derived from Mus domesticus. Analysis of chromosome 7 loci both proximal and distal to the p locus demonstrates that strains SJL/J, 129/J, B10.129(21M), P/J and FS/Ei contain DNA segments of varying length derived from M. musculus. Strains 129/J and B10.129(21M) contain the largest segment of M. musculus-derived DNA (about 5 cM), including the loci Myod1, p, three clustered GABA(A) receptor subunit loci (Gabrg3, Gabra5 and Gabrb3), and Snrpn. The difference in the species origin of genes from this region of chromosome 7 may underlie the basis of the antigenicity of the minor histocompatibility antigen H4, defined by the strain B10.129(21M), and may account for the enhanced Myod1 activity observed in SJL/J mice.     

A locus for circadian period of locomotor activity on mouse proximal chromosome 3

Lengthened circadian period of locomotor activity is a characteristic of a congenic strain of mice carrying a nonsense mutation in exon 5 of the carbonic anhydrase II gene, car2. The null mutation in car2 is located on a DBA/2J inbred strain insert on proximal chromosome 3, on an otherwise C57BL/6J genomic background. Since reducing the size of the congenic region would narrow the possible candidate genes for period, two recombinant congenic strains (R1 and R2) were developed from the original congenic strain. These new congenic strains were assessed for period, genetic composition, and the presence of immunoreactive carbonic anhydrase II. R1 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the distal portion of the original DBA/2J insert, while R2 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the proximal portion. R1 mice had a significantly lengthened period compared to R2 mice and wild-type C57BL/6J mice, indicating that the gene(s) affecting period is likely found within the reduced DBA/2J insert (~1 cM) in the R1 mice. The R1 mice also possessed the null mutation in car2. This study confirmed the presence of a gene(s) affecting period on proximal chromosome 3 and significantly reduced the size of the congenic region and the number of candidate genes. Future studies will focus on identifying the gene influencing period.     

Genetic resistance to mouse hepatitis virus correlates with absence of virus-binding activity on target tissues.

The molecular mechanism of genetic resistance of inbred mouse strains to mouse hepatitis virus, a murine coronavirus, was studied by comparing virus binding to plasma membranes of intestinal epithelium or liver from susceptible BALB/c and resistant SJL/J mice with a new solid-phase assay for virus-binding activity. Virus bound to isolated membranes from susceptible mice, but not to membranes from resistant mice. F1 progeny of SJL/J X BALB/c mice had an intermediate level of virus-binding activity on their enterocyte and hepatocyte membranes. This correlated well with previous studies showing that susceptibility to mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 is controlled by a single autosomal dominant gene (M. S. Smith, R. E. Click, and P. G. W. Plagemann, J. Immunol. 133:428-432). Because virus binding was not prevented by treating membranes with sodium dodecyl sulfate, the virus-binding molecule could be identified by a virus overlay protein blot assay. Virus bound to a single broad band of Mr 100,000 to 110,000 in membranes from hepatocytes or enterocytes of susceptible BALB/c and semisusceptible C3H mice, but no virus-binding band was detected in comparable preparations of resistant SJL/J mouse membranes. Therefore, SJL/J mice may be resistant to mouse hepatitis virus A59 infection because they lack a specific virus receptor which is present on the plasma membranes of target cells from genetically susceptible BALB/c and semisusceptible C3H mice.     

Preferential induction of protective T cell responses to Theiler's virus in resistant (C57BL/6 x SJL)F1 mice

Infection of the central nervous system (CNS) with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) induces an immune-mediated demyelinating disease in susceptible mouse strains such as SJL/J (H-2(s)) but not in strains such as C57BL/6 (H-2(b)). In addition, it has been shown that (C57BL/6 × SJL/J)F1 mice (F1 mice), which carry both resistant and susceptible MHC haplotypes (H-2(b/s)), are resistant to both viral persistence and TMEV-induced demyelinating disease. In this study, we further analyzed the immune responses underlying the resistance of F1 mice. Our study shows that the resistance of F1 mice is associated with a higher level of the initial virus-specific H-2(b)-restricted CD8(+) T cell responses than of the H-2(s)-restricted CD8(+) T cell responses. In contrast, pathogenic Th17 responses to viral epitopes are lower in F1 mice than in susceptible SJL/J mice. Dominant effects of resistant genes expressed in antigen-presenting cells of F1 mice on regulation of viral replication and induction of protective T cell responses appear to play a crucial role in disease resistance. Although the F1 mice are resistant to disease, the level of viral RNA in the CNS was intermediate between those of SJL/J and C57BL/6 mice, indicating the presence of a threshold of viral expression for pathogenesis.     

Mouse susceptibility to mouse hepatitis virus infection is linked to viral receptor genotype.

We have reported that the receptor for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) expressed in MHV-susceptible BALB/c mice (MHVR1) has 10 to 30 times the virus-binding activity of the MHV receptor expressed in MHV-resistant SJL mice (MHVR2) (N. Ohtsuka, Y. K. Yamada, and F. Taguchi, J. Gen. Virol. 77:1683-1992, 1996). This fact indicates the possibility that the difference in MHV susceptibility between BALB/c and SJL mice is determined by the virus-binding activity of the receptor. To test this possibility, we have examined MHV susceptibility in mice with the homozygous MHVR1 gene (R1/R1 genotype), mice with the MHVR1 and MHVR2 genes (R1/R2 genotype), and mice with the homozygous MHVR2 gene (R2/R2 genotype) produced by cross and backcross mating between BALB/c and SJL mice. All 63 F2 and backcrossed mice with the MHVR1 gene (R1/R1 and R1/R2) were susceptible to MHV infection, and all 57 with the homozygous MHVR2 gene (R2/R2) were resistant. We have also examined the MHV receptor genotypes of several mouse strains that were reported to be susceptible to MHV infection. All of those mice had the MHVR1 gene. These results suggest the possibility that the viral receptor determines the susceptibility of the whole animal to MHV infection.     

Differences in avidity and epitope recognition of CD8(+) T cells infiltrating the central nervous systems of SJL/J mice infected with BeAn and DA strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection induces immune-mediated demyelinating disease in susceptible mouse strains and serves as a relevant infectious model for human multiple sclerosis. To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms, two strains of TMEV (DA and BeAn), capable of inducing chronic demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS), have primarily been used. Here, we have compared the T-cell responses induced after infection with DA and BeAn strains in highly susceptible SJL/J mice. CD4(+) T-cell responses to known epitopes induced by these two strains were virtually identical. However, the CD8(+) T-cell response induced following DA infection in susceptible SJL/J mice was unable to recognize two of three H-2K(s)-restricted epitope regions of BeAn, due to single-amino-acid substitutions. Interestingly, T cells specific for the H-2K(s)-restricted epitope (VP1(11-20)) recognized by both strains showed a drastic increase in frequency as well as avidity after infection with DA virus. These results strongly suggest that the level and avidity of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells infiltrating the CNS could be drastically different after infection with these two strains of TMEV and may differentially influence the pathogenic and/or protective outcome.