| First Author | Shrestha B | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | J Virol | Volume | 80 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 119-29 |
| PubMed ID | 16352536 | Mgi Jnum | J:104031 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3611037 | Doi | 10.1128/JVI.80.1.119-129.2006 |
| Citation | Shrestha B, et al. (2006) CD8+ T Cells Require Perforin To Clear West Nile Virus from Infected Neurons. J Virol 80(1):119-29 |
| abstractText | Injury to neurons after West Nile virus (WNV) infection is believed to occur because of viral and host immune-mediated effects. Previously, we demonstrated that CD8(+) T cells are required for the resolution of WNV infection in the central nervous system (CNS). CD8(+) T cells can control infection by producing antiviral cytokines (e.g., gamma interferon or tumor necrosis factor alpha) or by triggering death of infected cells through perforin- or Fas ligand-dependent pathways. Here, we directly evaluated the role of perforin in controlling infection of a lineage I New York isolate of WNV in mice. A genetic deficiency of perforin molecules resulted in higher viral burden in the CNS and increased mortality after WNV infection. In the few perforin-deficient mice that survived initial challenge, viral persistence was observed in the CNS for several weeks. CD8(+) T cells required perforin to control WNV infection as adoptive transfer of WNV-primed wild-type but not perforin-deficient CD8(+) T cells greatly reduced infection in the brain and spinal cord and enhanced survival of CD8-deficient mice. Analogous results were obtained when wild-type or perforin-deficient CD8(+) T cells were added to congenic primary cortical neuron cultures. Taken together, our data suggest that despite the risk of immunopathogenesis, CD8(+) T cells use a perforin-dependent mechanism to clear WNV from infected neurons. |
