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Differential target cell susceptibility to SFV-immune cytotoxic T-cells

A Müllbacher1, N J King

  • 1Division of Cell Biology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T.

Archives of Virology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infects multiple murine cells, but only L929 fibroblasts support full infection. Cytotoxic T cells target infected macrophages and fibroblasts, suggesting distinct viral antigen presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infects various murine cells with H-2k haplotype.
  • Productive infection is typically limited to L929 fibroblasts.
  • Other cell types, like macrophages and thymoma cells, can be infected but may not support full replication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential susceptibility of murine cell types to Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infection.
  • To analyze the recognition of infected cells by SFV-immune cytotoxic T (Tc) cells.
  • To understand the nature of viral antigen presentation on different infected cell types.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of murine cell types (L929 fibroblasts, thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages (TGM), BW 5147 thymoma cells) with SFV.
  • Detection of SFV antigen expression on cell surfaces and intracellularly.
  • Cytotoxicity assays using SFV-immune Tc cells against infected target cells.
  • Split clone limiting dilution and cold target competition experiments.

Main Results:

  • SFV antigen expression was observed in infected L929 fibroblasts, TGM, and BW 5147 thymoma cells.
  • SFV-immune Tc cells effectively lysed infected L929 fibroblasts and TGM.
  • Differential kinetics of lysis were observed for TGM and L929 fibroblasts.
  • Experiments suggest qualitatively different viral epitopes are presented by TGM and L929 cells to Tc cells.

Conclusions:

  • Murine cell types exhibit varying capacities for productive SFV infection.
  • SFV-immune cytotoxic T cells recognize infected macrophages and fibroblasts, but with distinct temporal profiles.
  • Differences in epitope presentation likely account for the varied T cell responses, with potential quantitative variations also contributing.

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