Neither B cells nor T cells are required for CNS demyelination in mice persistently infected with MHV-A59

• Published in: Journal of neurovirology Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 257 - 264
• Main Authors: Matthews, A E, Lavi, E, Weiss, S R, Paterson, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Informa UK Ltd 01.06.2002; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - virology; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronavirus Infections - immunology; Coronavirus Infections - pathology; Demyelinating Diseases - immunology; Demyelinating Diseases - pathology; Demyelinating Diseases - virology; Female; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Murine hepatitis virus - immunology; Short Communication; Spinal Cord - immunology; Spinal Cord - pathology; Spinal Cord - virology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - virology
• ISSN: 1355-0284; 1538-2443
• DOI: 10.1080/13550280290049697

Murine hepatitis virus A59 infection of the central nervous system (CNS) results in CNS demyelination in susceptible strains of mice. In infected B-cell-deficient mice, demyelination not only occurred but was also more severe than in parental C57BL/6 animals. This increase may be due to the persistence of virus in the CNS in the absence of B cells. In mice lacking antibody receptors or complement pathway activity, virus did not persist yet demyelination was similar to parental mice. In infected RAG1 -/- mice, moderately sized, typical demyelinating lesions were identified. Therefore, demyelination can occur in the absence of B and T cells. Journal of NeuroVirology (2002) 8, 257-264.