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Persistent LCM virus infection in the mouse. Immunity and tolerance
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Persistent LCM virus infections in mice result from viral immunosuppression. Adoptive immunization reveals that cellular immunity eliminates the virus, while helper T cells are crucial for antibody production, indicating a state of immunological tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Persistent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infections involve complex host-pathogen interactions.
- Viral infection can impair immune cell development and function, leading to immunosuppression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunological mechanisms underlying persistent LCMV infections in mice.
- To determine the role of cellular and humoral immunity in viral clearance and the establishment of a carrier state.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of persistent LCMV infection in C(3)H mice.
- Employing adoptive immunization strategies to assess immune responses.
- Evaluating the presence and function of LCMV-specific T cells (helper T cells) and B cells.
Main Results:
- Cellular immunity, specifically T cell responses, is essential for eliminating LCM virus.
- Helper T cells are required for antibody production during viral clearance.
- Persistent LCMV carriers lack LCMV-primed B cells and helper T cells, suggesting a lack of adaptive immune memory.
Conclusions:
- Mice with persistent LCMV infections develop both humoral and cellular immunological tolerance to the virus.
- This tolerance prevents effective viral clearance and maintenance of the carrier state.