T-LYMPHOCYTE-MEDIATED ANTIVIRAL IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN MICE ARE DIMINISHED BY TREATMENT WITH MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY DIRECTED AGAINST THE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR

Blocking the interleukin-2 receptor's alpha-chain in lymphocytic chori omeningitis virus-infected mice by treatment with monoclonal antibodie s diminished the increase of numbers of CD8(+) T lymphocytes in spleen s and prevented CD8(+) T lymphocyte-mediated virus clearance from orga ns as well as generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Al so, the CD8(+) T cell-mediated early phase of the delayed-type hyperse nsitivity footpad swelling reaction was decreased. The same treatment had no effect on the number of CD4(+) spleen T lymphocytes, which, how ever, did not enlarge during infection, but these cells' heightened DN A synthesis and cytokine production were reduced by antibody treatment ; yet the generation of antiviral antibodies remained unaffected, and the CD4(+) T lymphocyte-mediated second part of the footpad reaction w as somewhat augmented. We conclude that blocking of the interleukin-2 receptor by antibody in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected mi ce diminishes both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell-mediated antiviral immune responses, the former more than the latter.