TRANSFER OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS DISEASE IN BETA(2)-MICROGLOBULIN-DEFICIENT MICE BY CD4-CELLS( T)

In this study we have investigated the role of CD4+, MHC class II-rest ricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the disease caused by lymphoc ytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in beta2-Microglobulin deficient (b eta2M-) mice. Intracranial (i.c.) infection with LCMV resulted in deat h of six out Of 11 beta2M- mice. Mice that survived showed a marked lo ss in body weight. Death and loss of body weight could be prevented by immunosuppressing the mice with irradiation or cyclosporine prior to i.c. injection of LCMV. This treatment also prevented induction of vir us-specific, MHC class II-restricted CTL following peripheral inoculat ion with LCMV. In vivo depletion of CD4+ cells with antibody also prev ented death following i.c. injection whereas in vivo depletion of CD8 cells had no effect. Disease could be transferred to recipient beta2M - mice by adoptive transfer of beta2M- derived immune spleen cells. Tr ansfer of non-immune spleen cells did not result in illness. In vitro treatment of immune spleen cells with anti-CD4 antibody and complement eliminated class 11-restricted CTL activity and also prevented mortal ity of recipients after adoptive transfer. Treatment with anti-CD8 ant ibody had no effect. We were unable to transfer LCM disease to beta2M- recipients by adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells from C57BL/6 m ice. These results suggest that, unlike normal mice, the pathology of LCM disease in beta2M- mice is dependent upon virus-specific, CD4+CD8- , MHC class II-restricted T cells.