T-cell responsiveness to LCMV segregates as a single locus in crosses between BALB/cA and C.B-17 mice. Evidence for regulation by a gene outside the Igh region

Perforin-deficient CD8+ T cells mediate fatal lymphocytic choriomeningitis despite impaired cytokine production

Intracerebral (i.c.) infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is one of the most studied models for virus-induced immunopathology, and based on results from perforin-deficient mice, it is currently assumed that fatal disease directly reflects perforin-mediated cell lysis. However, recent studies have revealed additional functional defects within the effector T cells of LCMV-infected perforin-deficient mice, raising the possibility that perforin may not be directly involved in mediating lethal disease. For this reason, we decided to reevaluate the role of perforin in determining the outcome of i.c. infection with LCMV. We confirmed that the expansion of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells is unimpaired in perforin-deficient mice. However, despite the fact that the virus-specific CD8(+) effector T cells in perforin-deficient mice are broadly impaired in their effector function, these mice invariably succumb to i.c. infection with LCMV strain Armstrong, although a few days later than matched wild-type mice. Upon further investigation, we found that this delay correlates with the delayed recruitment of inflammatory cells to the central nervous system (CNS). However, CD8(+) effector T cells were not kept from the CNS by sequestering in infected extraneural organ sites such as liver or lungs. Thus, the observed dysfunctionality regarding the production of proinflammatory mediators probably results in the delayed recruitment of effector cells to the CNS, and this appears to be the main explanation for the delayed onset of fatal disease in perforin-deficient mice. However, once accumulated in the CNS, virus-specific CD8(+) T cells can induce fatal CNS pathology despite the absence of perforin-mediated lysis and reduced capacity to produce several key cytokines.

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as an early and sensitive marker for virus-induced T cell activation

The effect of systemic virus infection on the level of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) in serum, and the role of virus-activated T cells in this context, were studied using the murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection as primary model system. A marked virus-induced elevation in cICAM-1 in serum was revealed, the presence of which coincided with the phase of virus-induced T cell activation. However, high levels of cICAM-1 in serum were observed well before maximal T cell activation could be demonstrated. No increase in cICAM-1 was observed in the serum of infected T cell-deficient nude mice, clearly demonstrating that T cells were mandatory. Analysis of MHC class I and MHC class II-deficient mice revealed that either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells alone are sufficient, despite a markedly reduced inflammatory exudate in the former animals. These results indicate that virus-activated T cells induce shedding of ICAM-1 into the circulation, and this parameter may be used as an early and sensitive marker for immune activation.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection is associated with long-standing perturbation of LFA-1 expression on CD8+ T cells

Flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes from mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus revealed marked and long-standing up-regulation of LFA-1 expression on CD8+, but not on CD4+ T cells. Appearance of CD8+ T cells with a changed expression of adhesion molecules reflected polyclonal activation and expansion which was demonstrated not to depend on CD4+ T cells or their products. Cell sorting experiments defined virus-specific CTL to be included in this population (LFA-1hiMEL-14lo), but since about 80% of splenic CD8+ T cells have a changed phenotype, extensive bystander activation must take place; this is indicated also by the finding that CD8+LFA-1hi cells transiently express several markers of cellular activation, e.g. transferrin receptor, IL-2R alpha and beta. Analysis of cells from the cerebrospinal fluid of mice infected intracerebrally showed that virtually all T cells present belonged to the CD8+LFA-1hi subset and, correspondingly, the ligand ICAM-1 was found to be up-regulated on endothelial cells in the inflamed meninges. Preincubation of LCMV-primed donor splenocytes with anti-LFA-1 markedly inhibited the transfer of virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity to naive recipients. Together, these findings indicate that up-regulation of LFA-1 expression is a critical factor involved in directing activated CD8+ T cells to sites of viral infection.

The role of CD4+ T cells in cell-mediated immunity to LCMV: studies in MHC class I and class II deficient mice

Parameters of the virus-specific T-cell response were analysed in order to dissect the contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to cell-mediated immunity to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. In MHC class II deficient mice, initial T-cell responsiveness was not impaired, but virus clearance was delayed, and virus-specific Td activity declined more rapidly. Furthermore, class I restricted Tc memory appeared to be impaired in these mice. To directly evaluate the role of CD4+ cells in virus clearance and T-cell mediated inflammation, MHC class I deficient mice were also studied. No virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction was detected following infection of the footpad, and only a few mice died from intracerebral challenge. However analysis of markers of T-cell activation as well as direct evaluation of CSF inflammation unveiled a low degree of T-cell activation and a chronic cellular exudate. This low-grade response was associated with some degree of virus control as organ titres were lower in these animals than in matched T-cell deficient nu/nu mice or class I deficient mice treated with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. This confirms that CD4+ cells are not needed to induce a virus-specific CD8+ T-cell response, but our findings strongly suggest that CD4+ T cells are critical for maintaining full antiviral immunity. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells per se have a low potential for mediating virus-specific inflammation that is associated with a low degree of virus control.