Viral proteins and RNAs in BHK cells persistently infected by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Some Syrian hamster cell lines persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) do not produce extracellular virus particles but do contain intracytoplasmic infectious material. The proteins of these cells were labeled with [35S]methionine or with [3H]glucosamine and [3H]mannose, and immunoprecipitates were prepared with anti-LCMV sera. A substantial amount of the LCMV nucleocapsid protein (molecular weight about 58,000) was detected, along with GP-C, the precursor of the virion glycoproteins GP-1 and GP-2. GP-1 and GP-2 themselves were not detected. A new method of transferring proteins electrophoretically from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to diazotized paper in high yield revealed several additional LCMV proteins present specifically in the persistently infected cells, at apparent molecular weights (X10(3] of 112, 107, 103, 89, 71 (probably GP-C), 58 (nucleocapsid protein), 42 to 47 (probably GP-1), and 40 (possibly GP-2). By iodinating intact cells with I3, GP-1 but not GP-2 or GP-C was revealed on the surfaces of the persistently infected cells, whereas both GP-1 and GP-C were found on the surfaces of acutely infected cells. The absence of GP-C from the plasma membrane of the persistently infected cells might be related to defective maturation of the virus in these cells. Cytoplasmic viral nucleoprotein complexes were labeled with [3H]uridine in the presence or absence of actinomycin D, purified partially by sedimentation in D2O-sucrose gradients, and adsorbed to fixed Staphylococus aureus cells in the presence of anti-LCMV immunoglobulin G. Several discrete species of viral RNA were released from the immune complexes with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Some were appreciably smaller than the 31S and 23S species of standard LCMV virions, indicating that defective interfering viral RNAs are probably present in the persistently infected cells. Ribosomal 28S and 18S RNAs, labeled only in the absence of actinomycin D, were coprecipitated with anti-LCMV serum but not with control serum, indicating their association with LCMV nucleoproteins in the cells.     

Detection of the antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in sera of laboratory rodents infected with viruses of laboratory and newly isolated strains by ELISA using purified recombinant nucleoprotein

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect the antibody against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in sera of laboratory animals. In this ELISA system, LCMV-nucleoprotein (NP) expressed by recombinant baculovirus and purified with high molar urea was used as the antigen. Sera from laboratory animals experimentally infected with the Armstrong strain or the newly isolated M1 strain of LCMV were examined to detect anti-LCMV antibody by the ELISA system, and the reactivity was compared with that of IFA test. Regardless of LCMV strain, all the sera of adult mice infected with LCMV were positive with very high optical density (OD). Also, the sera from mice neonatally infected with LCMV M1 strain were positive with slightly lower OD than adult mice. In contrast, all the sera of uninfected mice were negative to LCMV-NP antigen. Similarly, anti-LCMV antibodies were detected in all the sera of hamsters, mastomyses, and gerbils infected with the LCMV Armstrong strain. The results of the ELISA were in complete agreement with those of IFA, and indicate the high sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA system in the detection of anti-LCMV antibody. Because this ELISA system does not require handling infectious LCMV in the course of the antigen preparation and serological assay, there is no risk of contamination in the laboratory or nearby animal facility. In addition, by using negative control antigen in parallel with positive antigen in ELISA, we can exactly check the LCMV contamination in laboratory animals.     

Antibody prevents the establishment of persistent arenavirus infection in synergy with endogenous T cells.

A cardinal feature of the biology of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is its ability to establish persistent infections in mice. Persistence is usually established by infection of the mouse during the in utero or neonatal period. Susceptibility can be extended to the adult by treatment with immunosuppressive agents or by infection with immunosuppressive strains of LCMV. In this study we investigated the capacity of passively acquired anti-LCMV antibodies to prevent the establishment of persistence in both neonatal and adult mice. Suckling BALB/c mouse pups nursed by mothers immunized against LCMV before pregnancy had higher survival rates following infection than controls and withstood challenge doses of up to 400 PFU without becoming persistently infected. To establish that maternal antibody alone and not maternally derived T cells provided this protection, nonimmune mothers were infused with monoclonal anti-LCMV neutralizing antibodies within 24 h after delivering their pups. Pups nursing on these passively immunized mothers were resistant to persistent LCMV infection. The establishment of persistence in adult BALB/c mice by the immunosuppressive, macrophage-tropic LCMV variant, clone 13 was also prevented by prophylactic treatment with anti-LCMV monoclonal antibodies. However, the protection afforded by passively acquired antibody was found to be incomplete if the recipients lacked functional CD8+ T cells. While 65% of neonatal athymic (nu/nu) mice nursed by immune nu/+ dams resisted low-dose viral challenge (25 PFU), the majority of nude pups challenged with high doses of virus (100 PFU) became persistently infected. Also, protection was incomplete in beta2-microglobulin knockout mice, which lack functional CD8+ T cells, suggesting that a cooperative effect was exerted by the combination of neutralizing antibody and endogenous T cells. These results indicate that antibodies provide an effective barrier to the establishment of persistent infections in immunocompetent mice and reaffirm that vaccines which induce strong humoral responses may provide efficient protection against arenavirus infections.     

Persistent infection of some standard cell lines by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: transmission of infection by an intracellular agent.

Cell-free cytoplasmic extracts of the Syrian hamster cell lines C13/SV28 and BHK-21F were immunogenic in Syrian hamsters. The resulting antisera cross-reacted completely with antisera against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in an immunoradiometric assay employing BHK-21F antigen. Several other Syrian hamster cell lines not previously known to be infected with LCMV were also strongly positive when assayed for viral antigens. Also, several mouse sera and antisera raised in Syrian hamsters against cells transformed by papovaviruses had high titers of anti-LCMV activity. No cytopathic effect was evident in any of the persistently infected cell lines. Culture media from these cells were not infectious and showed no evidence of defective interfering particles. However, cell-free extracts of all the persistently infected cells contained material capable of transmitting the persistent infection to uninfected cells of Syrian hamsters, rats, mice, green monkeys, and humans. The onset of infection is much slower than when LCMV virions are used. When 2 X 10(6) uninfected BHK cells were treated with an extract from 100 persistently infected cells, the new infection was apparent within about 12 days. When an extract from 10(6) cells was used, the new infection was apparent within about 5 days, but not sooner. The intracellular infectious material was sensitive to treatment with deoxycholate, Nonidet P-40, or ether but resistant to treatment with RNase or trypsin. It was also large (5,000S) and heterodisperse on sucrose gradients. The infectious material was probably contained in large lipid vesicles and their integrity was probably essential for infection. When a few persistently infected cells were cocultivated with many uninfected cells, a few discrete colonies positive for LCMV antigens were observed after about 5 days. Since the culture media were not infectious, the infection probably spread by cell-cell contact. Several different experiments indicated that interferon did not play a major role in mediating persistence in this case. Persistent infections by LCMV can be maintained without expression of extracellular virus particles and without appearance of large amounts of viral antigens on the cell surface. Cell-cell contact could still allow transmission of intracellular infectious material. In an animal, these properties could circumvent immune surveillance.     

Virus-induced immune complex disease: identification of specific viral antigens and antibodies deposited in complexes during chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection.

Structural proteins of LCMV were identified and their role in the immune complex glomerulonephritis of LCMV carrier mice was examined. Purified LCMV contained three major polypeptides, a single nonglycosylated nucleoprotein with an estimated m.w. of 63,000, and two surface glycoproteins of 54,000 and 35,000. Deposition of nucleoprotein antigen in the glomeruli of LCMV carrier mice of several strains was demonstrated by immunofluorescent staining with a monospecific antibody. In addition, Ig eluted from kidneys of three strains of LCMV carrier mice was shown by immune precipitation to react against all of major viral polypeptides of LCMV. Antibody from normal mice, and from mice with immune complex disease unrelated to LCMV did not show deposition of LCMV antigen in glomeruli, and Ig eluted from the kidneys of these mice did not react against LCMV antigens. Hence, mice infected at birth with LCMV and persistently infected throughout their life make antibodies to all the known structural polypeptides of the virus.     

Characterization of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-binding protein(s): a candidate cellular receptor for the virus.

The attachment of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) to murine and primate cell lines was quantitated by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter assay in which binding of biotinylated virus was detected with streptavidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate. Cell lines that were readily infected by LCMV (e.g., MC57, Rin, BHK, Vero, and HeLa) bound virus in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no significant binding was observed to lymphocytic cell lines (e.g., RMA and WIL 2) that were not readily infected. Binding was specific and competitively blocked by nonbiotinylated LCMV. It was also blocked by LCMV-specific antiserum and a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to the virus glycoprotein GP-1 but not by antibodies specific for GP-2, indicating that attachment was likely mediated by GP-1. Treatment of cells with any of several proteases abolished LCMV binding, whereas phospholipases including phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C had no effect, indicating that one or more membrane proteins were involved in virus attachment. These proteins were characterized with a virus overlay protein blot assay. Virus bound to protein(s) with a molecular mass of 120 to 140 kDa in membranes from cell lines permissive for LCMV but not from nonpermissive cell lines. Binding was specific, since unlabeled LCMV, but not the unrelated enveloped virus herpes simplex virus type 1, competed with 125I-labeled LCMV for binding to the 120- to 140-kDa band. The proteinaceous nature of the LCMV-binding substance was confirmed by the lack of virus binding to proteinase K-treated membrane components. By contrast, glycosidase treatment of membranes did not abolish virus binding. However, in membranes treated with endoglycosidase F/N-glycosidase F, and/or neuraminidase and in membranes from cells grown in tunicamycin, the molecular mass of the LCMV-binding entity was reduced. Hence, LCMV attachment to rodent fibroblastic cell lines is mediated by a glycoprotein(s) with a molecular mass of 120 to 140 kDa, with complex N-linked sugars that are not involved in virus binding.     

Suppression of virus-specific antibody production by CD8+ class I-restricted antiviral cytotoxic T cells in vivo.

The question of whether virus-induced immunosuppression includes the antibody response against the infecting virus itself was evaluated in a model situation. Transgenic mice expressing the T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for peptide 32-42 of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein 1 presented by Db reacted with a strong transgenic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response starting on day 3 after infection with a high dose (10(6) PFU intravenously [i.v.]) of the WE strain of LCMV (LCMV-WE); LCMV-specific antibody production in the spleen was suppressed in these mice. Low-dose (10(2) PFU i.v.) infection resulted in an antiviral antibody response comparable to that of the transgene-negative littermates. The induction of suppression of LCMV-specific antibody responses was specifically mediated by CD8+ TCR transgenic CTLs, since the LCMV-8.7 variant virus (which is not recognized by transgenic TCR-expressing CTLs because of a point mutation) did not induce suppression. In addition, treatment with CD8 monoclonal antibody in vivo abrogated suppression. Once suppression had been established, it was found to be nonspecific. The abrogation of antibody responses depended on the relative kinetics of the antibody response involved and the kinetics of the anti-LCMV CTL response. Analysis of T- and B-cell subpopulations showed no significant changes, but immunohistochemical analysis of spleens revealed extensive destruction of follicular organization in lymphoid tissue by day 4 in transgenic mice infected with LCMV-WE but not in those infected with the CTL escape mutant LCMV-8.7. Impairment of antigen presentation rather than of T or B cells was also suggested by adoptive transfer experiments, showing that transferred infected macrophages may improve the anti-LCMV antibody response in LCMV-immunosuppressed transgenic recipients; also, T and B cells from suppressed transgenic mice did respond in irradiated and virus-infected nontransgenic mice with antibody formation to LCMV. Such virus-triggered, T-cell-mediated immunopathology causing the suppression of B cells and of protective antibody responses, including those against the infecting virus itself, may permit certain viruses to establish persistent infections.     

Early antibodies specific for the neutralizing epitope on the receptor binding subunit of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein fail to neutralize the virus

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a murine arenavirus whose glycoprotein consists of a transmembrane subunit (GP-2) and a receptor-binding subunit (GP-1). LCMV-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) are directed against a single site on GP-1 and occur 1 month after the infection of cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) deficient mice. In wild-type mice, however, CTLs control early infection, and weak nAb titers emerge very late (after 70 to 150 days) if at all. Production of recombinant GP-1 in native conformation enabled us to study the emergence of GP-1-binding antibodies directed against the neutralizing epitope. By combining binding and neutralization assays, we correlated the development of binding antibodies versus nAbs in wild-type and CTL-deficient mice after infection with different LCMV doses. We found that wild-type mice developed GP-1-specific antibodies already by day 8 after exposure to high but not low doses, demonstrating that naive GP-1-specific B cells were infrequent. Furthermore, the induced antibodies bound to the neutralizing GP-1 epitope but failed to neutralize the virus and therefore were of low affinity. In CTL-deficient mice, where massive viremia quickly levels initial differences in viral load, low and high doses induced low-affinity non-neutralizing GP-1-binding antibodies with kinetics similar to high-dose-infected wild-type mice. Only in CTL-deficient mice, however, the GP-1-specific antibodies developed into nAbs within 1 month. We conclude that LCMV uses a dual strategy to evade nAb responses in wild-type mice. First, LCMV exploits a "hole" in the murine B-cell repertoire, which provides only a small and narrow initial pool of low-affinity GP-1-specific B cells. Second, affinity maturation of the available low-affinity non-neutralizing antibodies is impaired.     

Mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection: mother-to-baby transfer of humoral protection.

The role of antiviral antibodies in resistance to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection was explored. Immune serum and monoclonal antibodies prevented fatal T-cell-mediated immunopathology following acute LCMV infections. In addition, 10- and 14-day-old mice that received maternally derived anti-LCMV antibodies through nursing were protected from an otherwise lethal LCMV challenge. Detailed investigation of the mechanism(s) by which these antiviral antibodies provided was carried out by using anti-LCMV monoclonal antibodies. Protection correlated directly with the ability of the antibodies to reduce viral titers in the tissues of conventional (K. E. Wright and M. J. Buchmeier, J. Virol. 65:3001-3006, 1991) and nude mice. However, this reduction was not simply a reflection of virus neutralizing activity, since not all antibodies which neutralized in vitro were protective. A correlation was also found between immunoglobulin isotype and protection: all of the protective antibodies were immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a), while IgG1 antibodies mapping to the same epitopes were not. Protection appeared to be associated with events controlled by the Fc region. Functional F(ab')2 fragments which retained in vitro neutralizing activity were not protective in vivo. Furthermore, this Fc-associated function was not related to complement-mediated cell lysis, since C5-deficient mouse strains were also protected. These results suggest a role for antibody in protection from arenavirus infections and indicate that a distinct immunoglobulin subclass, IgG2a, may be essential for this protection.     

High frequency of virus-specific interleukin-2-producing CD4(+) T cells and Th1 dominance during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection

Analysis of C57BL/6 mice acutely infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) by using intracellular cytokine staining revealed a high frequency (2 to 10%) of CD4(+) T cells secreting the Th1-associated cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha, with no concomitant increase in the frequency of CD4(+) T cells secreting the Th2-associated cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 following stimulation with viral peptides. In LCMV-infected C57BL/6 CD8(-/-) mice, more than 20% of the CD4(+) T cells secreted IFN-gamma after viral peptide stimulation, whereas less than 1% of the CD4(+) T cells secreted IL-4 under these same conditions. Mice persistently infected with a high dose of LCMV clone 13 also generated a virtually exclusive Th1 response. Thus, LCMV induces a much more profound virus-specific CD4(+) T-cell response than previously recognized, and it is dramatically skewed to a Th1 phenotype.     

Alterations of acetylcholine enzymes in neuroblastoma cells persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Persistent infection of murine neuroblastoma cells with a relatively non-cytopathic virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), significantly lowered the cells' concentrations of choline acetyl transferase (CAT) and acetylcholine esterase (ACHE), enzymes which make or degrade acetylcholine. Quantities of acetylcholine enzymes remained depressed during the observation period of more than two years. This cellular luxury function was turned off without observable alterations in the cells' vital functions – growth rates, protein and RNA synthesis. Cloning experiments showed that CAT and ACHE levels were altered in the majority of LCMV infected neuroblastoma cells in culture and not limited to a specific subpopulation. Cells persistently infected with virus also contained receptors for neurotoxin A and α bungarotoxin. Six months after becoming infected, neuroblastoma cells having significant alterations in luxury functions stopped making infectious virus. Instead these cells now produced a defective interfering virus component. Similar events to those seen in vitro with neuroblastoma cells also occurred in vivo. Mice inoculated with LCMV at birth carried high titers of LCMV in brain tissues and viral antigens in neuronal cells as adults. Some of these mice also showed significant alterations in their ability to make and degrade acetylcholine when compared to age and sex matched controls.     

Biology of cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. VI. Migration and activity in vivo in acute and persistent infection

Cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) were adoptively transferred to syngeneic mice acutely or persistently (carrier mice) infected with LCMV. Although infectious virus was cleared from the spleens during acute LCMV infection begun 24 hr earlier and the spleens remained clear of virus for the 4 days of testing, there was no concomitant reduction of viral titers in lymph nodes. In contrast, adoptive transfer of cloned CTL into animals with persistent rather than acute LCMV infection resulted in deaths of syngeneic but not allogeneic recipients. LCMV-immune spleen cells taken 30 to 50 days after a primary immunization and activated by in vitro stimulation before transfer also caused death of syngeneic carrier mice. However, LCMV-immune spleen cell per se provoked no clinical manifestations when transferred but cleared infectious virus and viral nucleic acid sequences from syngeneic carrier mice. The migration of 51Cr-labeled, LCMV-specific, H-2-restricted cloned CTL was assessed in vivo. The circulation of these CTL clearly differed from that of spleen cells freshly isolated from uninfected mice and from non-LCMV-specific CTL clone. Further, the circulatory pattern of LCMV-specific, H-2-restricted, cloned CTL in carrier mice was markedly different than in uninfected animals; only 7% of the injected cells remained in the lungs of uninfected mice 8 hr after injection, whereas 30% had accumulated in the liver. However, 55% of the cells injected into carrier mice still remained in their lungs 8 to 16 hr later. Hence, LCMV-specific, H-2-restricted, cloned CTL have unique trafficking patterns in the presence of LCMV antigens and immune activities in vivo.     

Identification of an N-terminal trimeric coiled-coil core within arenavirus glycoprotein 2 permits assignment to class I viral fusion proteins

The lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein (GP) consists of the transmembrane subunit GP-2 and the receptor binding subunit GP-1. Both are synthesized as one precursor protein and stay noncovalently attached after cleavage. In this study, we determined the oligomeric state of the LCMV GP and expressed it in two different conformations suitable for structural analysis. Sequence analysis of GP-2 identified a trimeric heptad repeat pattern containing an N-terminal alpha-helix. An alpha-helical peptide matching this region formed a stable oligomer as revealed by gel filtration chromatography and dynamic light scattering. In contrast, a second alpha-helical peptide corresponding to a predicted C-terminal alpha-helix within GP-2 did not oligomerize. Refolding of the complete GP-2 ectodomain revealed trimeric all-alpha complexes probably representing the six-helix bundle state that is considered a hallmark of class I viral fusion proteins. Based on these results, we generated a construct consisting of the complete uncleavable LCMV GP ectodomain fused C-terminally to the trimeric motif of fibritin. Gel filtration analysis of the secreted fusion protein identified two complexes of approximately 230 and approximately 440 kDa. Both complexes bound to a set of conformational and linear antibodies. Cross-linking confirmed the 230-kDa complex to be a trimer. The 440-kDa complexes were found to represent disulfide-linked pairs of trimers, since partial reduction converted them to a complex species migrating at 250 kDa. By electron microscopy, the 230-kDa complexes appeared as single spherical particles and showed no signs of rosette formation. Our results clearly demonstrate that the arenavirus GP is a trimer and must be considered a member of the class I viral fusion protein family.     

Virus-lymphocyte interaction: T cells of the helper subset are infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus during persistent infection in vivo.

The lifelong persistence of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in neonatally or congenitally infected mice is accompanied by a suppression of virus-specific T-cell responses. In this study, we identified the subset of T cells infected with LCMV during persistent infection in vivo. Using specific monoclonal antibodies to separate the different lymphocyte cell populations and employing both an infectious center assay and immunofluorescence to detect the virus, we found that infection is confined primarily to T cells of the helper subset (L3T4+ Lyt2-), with minimal involvement of cytotoxic T cells (Lyt2+ L3T4-) and mature B cells. About 0.54 to 1.1% of L3T4+ T cells were producing the virus, as determined by the infectious center assay. In contrast, 9.1 to 12.2% of these L3T4+ T cells contained viral antigen, as shown by immunofluorescence studies. This finding suggested that, at any given time, a substantial number of infected T cells were not producing infectious virus. This infection of T helper cells may be involved in the suppression of LCMV-specific T-cell responses observed in persistently infected mice.     

A Role for Perforin in Downregulating T-Cell Responses during Chronic Viral Infection

Cytotoxic T cells secrete perforin to kill virus-infected cells. In this study we show that perforin also plays a role in immune regulation. Perforin-deficient (perf −/−) mice chronically infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) contained greater numbers of antiviral T cells compared to persistently infected +/+ mice. The enhanced expansion was seen in both CD4 and CD8 T cells, but the most striking difference was in the numbers of LCMV-specific CD8 T cells present in infected perf −/− mice. Persistent LCMV infection of +/+ mice results in both deletion and anergy of antigen-specific CD8 T cells, and our results show that this peripheral “exhaustion” of activated CD8 T cells occurred less efficiently in perf −/− mice. This excessive accumulation of activated CD8 T cells resulted in immune-mediated damage in persistently infected perf −/− mice; ~50% of these mice died within 2 to 4 weeks, and mortality was fully reversed by in vivo depletion of CD8 T cells. This finding highlights an interesting dichotomy between the role of perforin in viral clearance and immunopathology; perforin-deficient CD8 T cells were unable to clear the LCMV infection but were capable of causing immune-mediated damage. Finally, this study shows that perforin also plays a role in regulating T-cell-mediated autoimmunity. Mice that were deficient in both perforin and Fas exhibited a striking acceleration of the spontaneous lymphoproliferative disease seen in Fas-deficient (lpr) mice. Taken together, these results show that the perforin-mediated pathway is involved in downregulating T-cell responses during chronic viral infection and autoimmunity and that perforin and Fas act independently as negative regulators of activated T cells.     

Natural killer cell depletion enhances virus synthesis and virus-induced hepatitis in vivo

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in the natural resistance of mice to infections by several viruses was examined. Mice were specifically depleted of NK cells by i.v. injection of rabbit antiserum to asialo GM1, a neutral glycosphingolipid present at high concentrations on the surface of NK cells. Control mice were left untreated or were injected with normal rabbit serum. Four to 6 hr later, these mice were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), or vaccinia virus. The mice were sacrificed 3 days post-infection and assayed for virus in liver and spleen, spleen NK cell activity, and plasma interferon (IFN). All mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antibody had drastically reduced NK cell-mediated lysis. Correlating with NK cell depletion, these mice had significantly higher (up to 500-fold) titers of MCMV, MHV, or vaccinia virus in their livers and spleens as compared to control mice. NK cell-depleted MCMV and MHV-infected mice had higher levels of plasma IFN than controls, correlating with the higher virus titers. These NK cell-depleted, virus-infected mice had more extensive hepatitis, assayed by the number of inflammatory foci in their livers, as compared to control virus-infected mice; these foci were also larger and contained more degenerating liver cells than those in control mice. In contrast to the results obtained with MHV, MCMV, and vaccinia virus, NK cell depletion had no effect on virus titers in the early stages of acute LCMV infection or during persistent LCMV infection. Mice depleted of NK cells had similar amounts of LCMV in their spleens and similar plasma IFN levels. Because this antibody to asialo GM1 does not impair other detectable immunologic mechanisms, these data support the hypothesis that NK cells act as a natural resistance mechanism to a number of virus infections, but suggest that their relative importance may vary from virus to virus.     

Variation in susceptibility to benznidazole in isolates derived from Trypanosoma cruzi parental strains.

In this work, the susceptibility to benznidazole of two parental Trypanosoma cruzi strains, Colombian and Berenice-78, was compared to isolates obtained from dogs infected with these strains for several years. In order to evaluate the susceptibility to benznidazole two groups of mice were infected with one of five distinct populations isolated from dogs as well as the two parental strains of T. cruzi. The first group was treated with benznidazole during the acute phase and the second remained untreated controls. The animals were considered cured when parasitological and serological tests remained persistently negative. Mice infected with the Colombian strain and its isolates Colombian (A and B) did not cure after treatment. On the other hand, all animals infected with Berenice-78 were cured by benznidazole treatment. However, 100%, 50% and 70% of cure rates were observed in animals infected with the isolates Berenice-78 B, C and D, respectively. No significant differences were observed in serological profile of infected control groups, with all animals presenting high antibody levels. However, the ELISA test showed differences in serological patterns between mice inoculated with the different T. cruzi isolates and treated with benznidazole. This variability was dependent on the T. cruzi population used and seemed to be associated with the level of resistance to benznidazole.     

Immunologic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of virus-induced murine leukemia. III. Target cell specificity of autoreactive thymocytes.

Thymocytes from preleukemic mice persistently infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV-M-carriers) were vigorously autoaggressive toward normal syngeneic target cells; they exhibited a graded response to allogeneic cells, but they spared xenogeneic cells or syngeneic cells infected with MuLV-M or MuLV-G (Gross). Syngeneic target cells infected with nononcogenic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), or transformed by the chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene were not similarly spared. This phenomenon, apparently induced by MuLV-M, is not associated with all persistent virus carrier states. Thymocytes from mice persistently infected with LCMV or with the lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDHV) failed to demonstrate an autoaggressive behavior. That transplantable lymphoma cells (derived from MuLV-M-carriers) were autoreactive in a pattern similar to thymocytes from preleukemic mice suggests a unique role for MuLV in the events leading from altered recognition of "self" to lymphoma.     

CD40 ligand-deficient mice generate a normal primary cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response but a defective humoral response to a viral infection.

CD40 ligand is expressed on activated T cells and interacts with CD40 on B cells and monocytes. It is not known what role CD40 ligand plays in the generation of immune responses to viral infection. To address this issue, we examined virus-specific T- and B-cell responses in CD40 ligand-deficient (CD40L-/-) mice following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). We found that primary anti-LCMV specific antibody responses were severely impaired in CD40L-/- mice, with the defect being most striking for antibody of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) isotype. Interestingly, low levels of LCMV-specific antibodies of the IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 isotypes were made in the CD40L-/- mice, showing that IgG1 responses are totally dependent on CD40L but that at least some IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 responses can be CD40L independent. However, unlike CD40L+/+ mice, CD40L-/- mice were unable to sustain virus-specific antibody responses and showed a gradual decline in serum antibody levels over time. The CD40L-/- mice were also deficient in the generation of memory B cells. In contrast to the severely impaired humoral responses, CD40L-/- mice generated potent virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses after LCMV infection and were able to clear the virus. These results show that CD40L does not play a role in generating primary virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses but does affect the primary antibody response and the generation of memory B cells.     

Production of random classes of immunoglobulins in brain tissue during persistent viral infection paralleled by secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) but not IL-4, IL-5, and gamma interferon

The activities of cytokines were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of mice persistently or intracerebrally acutely infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus (LCMV). In contrast to CBA/J (LCMV carrier) mice that responded with low levels of LCMV-specific antibody, high-responder NMRI (carrier) mice showed antibody production by B cells outside of lymphoid organs. The B cells that had infiltrated the brains of LCMV carrier mice exhibited no preferential immunoglobulin isotype or subtype virus-specific antibody production. Phenotypic analysis of the brain infiltrates in virus carrier mice revealed dominance of CD4+ T cells in contrast to virtual absence of CD4+ and dominance of CD8+ in mice with acute LCM. In NMRI but not in CBA/J carrier mice, significant concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected in CSF and serum; IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) were not elevated. In contrast, during acute, lethal LCM, IL-6 and IFN-gamma were found at high concentrations, and IL-4, IL-5, and GM-CSF were detectable in CSF and serum, but virus-specific antibody-producing cells were not (yet) detectable in the brain. Thus, distinct cytokine patterns are found in acute versus chronic LCMV infection of the brain: in LCM carrier mice, local random-class immunoglobulin production correlated with the absence of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma but active secretion of IL-6.