Bd. Pearce et al., Lymphocytic responses and the gradual hippocampal neuron loss following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), J NEUROIMM, 101(2), 1999, pp. 137-147
Infection of rats with LCMV is known to cause a bi-phasic neurodegeneration
characterized by acute T lymphocyte-mediated cerebellar damage, followed b
y gradual hippocampal neuron loss that occurs by an undefined mechanism. We
found infiltration of CD8 + T-cells (but not CD4 + or NK cells) in the hip
pocampus which correlated with the acute phase, but not the chronic hippoca
mpal degenerative phase. While immunosuppression of T lymphocytes protected
the cerebellum and revealed the infection of corticohippocampal glia, the
degeneration in the hippocampus was unabated. These data suggest that T lym
phocytes control glial infection and mediate degeneration in the cerebellum
but not the hippocampus. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
d.