O. Utermohlen et al., MODULATION BY GAMMA-INTERFERON OF ANTIVIRAL CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN-VIVO, Journal of virology, 70(3), 1996, pp. 1521-1526
Mice were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and injecte
d once 24 h later with a monoclonal antibody directed against gamma in
terferon. In comparison with controls, the increase of numbers of CD8(
+) T cells and the generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte
s in spleens and virus clearance from organs were diminished, as was t
he ability of spleen cells to transmit adoptive immunity to infected r
ecipients. The same treatment slightly but consistently lessened rathe
r than augmented the virus titers early in infection, which was also o
bserved in thymusless nu/nu mice. Injection into infected mice of the
lymphokine itself in quantities probably higher than are produced endo
genously resulted in lower virus titers in spleens but higher titers i
n livers, The adoptive immunity in infected mice achieved by infusion
of immune spleen cells was not altered by treating the recipients with
gamma interferon monoclonal antibody. Such treatment did not measurab
ly affect the production of antiviral serum antibodies, We conclude th
at in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected mice, gamma interfer
on is needed for the generation of antivirally active CD8(+) T lymphoc
ytes, and furthermore that in this experimental model, direct antivira
l effects of the lymphokine elude detection.