Inhibition of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II-Dependent Antigen Presentation by Neutralization of Gamma Interferon Leads to Breakdown of Resistance against Measles Virus-Induced Encephalitis

Borna disease virus (BDV) frequently causes meningoencephalitis and fatal neurological disease in young but not old mice of strain MRL. Disease does not result from the virus-induced destruction of infected neurons. Rather, it is mediated by H-2 k -restricted antiviral CD8 T cells that recognize a peptide derived from the BDV nucleoprotein N. Persistent BDV infection in mice is not spontaneously cleared. We report here that N-specific vaccination can protect wild-type MRL mice but not mutant MRL mice lacking gamma interferon (IFN-␥) from persistent infection with BDV. Furthermore, we observed a significant degree of resistance of old MRL mice to persistent BDV infection that depended on the presence of CD8 T cells. We found that virus initially infected hippocampal neurons around 2 weeks after intracerebral infection but was eventually cleared in most wild-type MRL mice. Unexpectedly, young as well as old IFN-␥-deficient MRL mice were completely susceptible to infection with BDV. Moreover, neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were severely damaged in most diseased IFN-␥-deficient mice but not in wild-type mice. Furthermore, large numbers of eosinophils were present in the inflamed brains of IFN-␥-deficient mice but not in those of wild-type mice, presumably because of increased intracerebral synthesis of interleukin-13 and the chemokines CCL1 and CCL11, which can attract eosinophils. These results demonstrate that IFN-␥ plays a central role in host resistance against infection of the central nervous system with BDV and in clearance of BDV from neurons. They further indicate that IFN-␥ may function as a neuroprotective factor that can limit the loss of neurons in the course of antiviral immune responses in the brain.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CD8 T Cells Require Gamma Interferon To Clear Borna Disease Virus from the Brain and Prevent Immune System-Mediated Neuronal Damage

Hausmann¹,

Pagenstecher

Baur³

et al. 2005

“…Upon the neutralization of IFN-␥ with antibodies in vivo, the phenotype of MV-specific T-helper cells isolated from BALB/c mice is reversed from subtype 1 to 2 (19). Furthermore, the neutralization of IFN-␥ interferes with major histocompatibility complex class II-dependent antigen presentation and the subsequent proliferation of CD4 ϩ T cells in vitro and in vivo (61). The reduction in numbers of CD4 ϩ T cells below a protective threshold may lead to susceptibility to MV-induced encephalitis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Mediates Cell Type-Specific Anti-Measles Virus Activity of Gamma Interferon

Obojes

Andrés

Kim

et al. 2005

“…T cells have no role in protection or clearance of virus from the respiratory tract (31) (although they might have a role in clearing virus infection from brain tissue through gamma interferon [IFN-␥] [10,40]). Because of the inhibition of immunization by maternal antibodies, only seronegative children can be successfully immunized, which leaves a window of opportunity for wild-type (WT) virus infection (reviewed in reference 19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Induction of Type I Interferon Secretion through Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing Measles Virus Hemagglutinin Stimulates Antibody Secretion in the Presence of Maternal Antibodies

Kim

Martínez-Sobrido

Choi

et al. 2011

Self Cite

Measles virus (MV) vaccine effectively protects seronegative individuals against infection. However, inhibition of vaccine-induced seroconversion by maternal antibodies after vaccination remains a problem, as it leaves infants susceptible to MV infection. In cotton rats, passive transfer of MV-specific IgG mimics maternal antibodies and inhibits vaccine-induced seroconversion. Here, we report that immunization in the presence of passively transferred IgG inhibits the secretion of neutralizing antibodies but not the generation of MV-specific B cells. This finding suggested that MV-specific B cells require an additional stimulus to mature into antibody-secreting plasma cells. In order to provide such a stimulus, we generated a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing the MV hemagglutinin (NDV-H). In contrast to MV, NDV-H induced high levels of type I interferon in plasmacytoid dendritic cells and in lung tissue. In cotton rats immunized with NDV-H, neutralizing antibodies were also generated in the presence of passively transferred antibodies. In the latter case, however, the level and kinetics of antibody generation were reduced. In vitro, alpha interferon stimulated the activation of MV-specific B cells from MV-immune spleen cells. NDV infection (which induces alpha interferon) had the same effect, and stimulation could be abrogated by antibodies neutralizing alpha interferon, but not interleukin 6 (IL-6). In vivo, coapplication of UV-inactivated MV with NDV led to increased MV-specific antibody production in the presence and absence of passively transferred antibodies. These data indicate that MV-specific B cells are being generated after immunization in the presence of maternal antibodies and that the provision of alpha interferon as an additional signal leads to antibody secretion.