Specific and Non‐specific Immunological Changes in Epidemic Polyarthritis Patients

Abstract

Summary T‐lymphocytes from epidemic polyarthritis patients exhibited a virus specific proliferative response when exposed to Ross River virus in vitro. The magnitude of this response was greater than that of lymphocytes from asymptomatic seropositive donors. The natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes from these patients was depressed early in disease but returned to normal levels as the severity of the symptoms decreased. Although no in vivo role can yet be assigned to natural killer cells in epidemic polyarthritis, changes in their activity appeared to be more closely associated with the presence or absence of disease symptoms than were levels of anti‐viral antibody or the ability of T‐lymphocytes from peripheral blood to proliferate on re‐exposure to Ross River virus.

Natural killer cell activity during measles

“…After administration of the 17 D vaccine strain of yellow fever virus, NK activity increases in coincidence with spontaneous proliferation of PBMC and then returns to normal (Fargreus et al, 1982). During cytomegalovirus-induced mononucleosis NK cytotoxicity is unchanged (Rinaldo et al, 1983) while it is depressed in Ross River virus-induced polyarthritis (Aaskov, Fraser & Dalgliesh, 1981), incondylomaacuminata(Caudae/a/., 1987) and in HIV infection (Bonavida, Katz & Gottlieb, 1986;Fontana et al, 1986;Katzman & Lederman, 1986). Our data indicate (Fig.…”

“…Similar data have been obtained in measles using a radioimmunoassay (Shiozawa et al, 1988) rather than a bioassay. In other acute natural and experimental viral infections circulating IFN is detectable primarily during the phase of active virus replication before the appearance of the specific immune response, and not at later times (Wheelock & Sibley, 1965;Luby et al, 1969;Aaskov et al, 1981;Levis et al, 1984;Burke & Morrill, 1987;Titles, Balkwill & Da villa, 1987). In general, clinical symptoms occur relatively late in the infectious process.…”

Epitope-Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Antibodies to Ross River Virus in Vertebrate Sera

“…Effective surveillance of virus activity in its natural transmission cycle, with appropriate warnings to the public, is the best measure available for minimizing this disease. Traditionally, hemagglutination inhibition (HI), neutralization, and immunofluorescence assays (2,7,13) have been the means for detecting RRV antibodies in both human and animal sera. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has also been used to specifically detect RRV immunoglobulin M in human sera (6,17).…”

“…The primary hosts of the virus include humans, kangaroos, wallabies, and horses (2,11,12,15). RRV is the major etiological agent of epidemic polyarthritis in humans, which is characterized by severe arthritis with possible development of a rash and mild fever or chills and for which there is no specific treatment.…”

Understanding immunobiology of chikungunya virus disease using mouse models

“…This rapid expansion of NK cells has also been seen in human RRV infection (Aaskov et al, 1981, Aaskov et al, 1987. NK cells have also be found to be one of the infiltrating cells in the arthritic feet of CHIKV-infected mice , and this is consistent with the up-regulation of IL-12 in the feet of CHIKVinfected mice (Stoermer et al, 2012).…”