Multiple effects of dendritic cell depletion on murine norovirus infection

Dendritic cells (DCs) are permissive to murine norovirus (MNV) infection in vitro and in vivo. However, their roles during infection in vivo are not well defined. To determine the role of DCs during infection, conventional DCs were depleted from CD11c-DTR mice and infected with a persistent MNV strain. Viral titres in the intestine and secondary lymphoid organs were determined at early time points during infection, and anti-MNV antibody responses were analysed later during infection. Depletion of conventional DCs resulted in increased viral loads in intestinal tissues, impaired generation of antibody responses, and a failure of MNV to efficiently infect lymphoid tissues. These data suggest that DCs play multiple roles in MNV pathogenesis, in both innate immunity and the efficient generation of adaptive immune responses against MNV, as well as by promoting the dissemination of MNV to secondary lymphoid tissues. This is the first study to probe the roles of DCs in controlling and/or facilitating a norovirus infection in vivo and provides the basis for further studies aimed at defining mechanisms by which DCs control MNV replication and promote viral dissemination.