Abstract
Daniel's strain of Theiler's virus (DA) induces a chronic demyelinating disease in the central nervous system (CNS) of susceptible SJL mice, which serves as an excellent model of multiple sclerosis. We previously demonstrated that point mutations near a putative virus receptor-binding site [VP1 99 (Gly to Ser) or 100 (Gly to Asp)] totally attenuate the ability of DA to persist and induce demyelination in SJL mice. The current studies demonstrate that class II-restricted CD4+ T cells play a major role in clearing VP1 mutant DA viruses from the CNS to prevent demyelination. Infection of SJL CD4((-/-)) mice with DA-VP1-99(Ser) or DA-VP1-100(Asp) resulted in virus persistence and prominent demyelination in the spinal cord. In contrast, infection of SJL CD8((-/-)) mice with DA-VP1-99(Ser) or DA-VP1-100 did not result in virus persistence or demyelination. In addition, no virus-specific cytotoxicity was observed in CNS-infiltrating lymphocytes following infection of SJL mice with VP1 mutant viruses. The mutant DA-VP1-99(Ser) and DA-VP1(100) viruses were in fact neurovirulent when compared to the wild-type DA virus, as they induced an overwhelming encephalitis and early lethality (2 to 4 days postinfection) in mice deficient in the IFN-α/β receptor. Therefore, the nondemyelinating phenotype observed with DA-VP1-99(Ser) and DA-VP1-100(Asp) viruses is dependent in part on the CD4-mediated host immune response. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 9-19 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 275 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 15 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology