General and specific immunosuppression caused by antiviral T-cell responses

Immunosuppression caused by the non-cytopathic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) (an RNA virus) is mediated by antiviral cytotoxic T cells tha t destroy LCMV-infected cells, also of the immune system. While this immuno pathological destruction of antigen-presenting cells, macrophages and folli cular dendritic cells and of some CD4(+) T cells causes general immunosuppr ession and impairs immune response to third party antigens, it also enhance s exhaustion/deletion of LCMV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. LCMV seems in addition to infect neutralizing antibody-producing B cells via the speci fic receptor; immunopathological LCMV-specific CD8(+) T-cell-mediated elimi nation of these infected B cells (but not of uninfected internal virus anti gen-specific B cells) causes a highly specific immunosuppression that delay s neutralizing antibody responses and thereby enhances virus persistence. B oth generalized and specific immunosuppression by CD8(+) T-cell-mediated im munopathology may be involved in human infections with HIV, hepatitis B vir us or hepatitis C virus.