T lymphocyte‐mediated antiviral immune responses in mice are diminished by treatment with monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin‐2 receptor

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Abstract
Blocking the interleukin‐2 receptor's α‐chain in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus‐infected mice by treatment with monoclonal antibodies diminished the increase of numbers of CD8+ T lymphocytes in spleens and prevented CD8+ T lymphocyte‐mediated virus clearance from organs as well as generation of virus‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Also, the CD8+ T cell‐mediated early phase of the delayed‐type hypersensitivity footpad swelling reaction was decreased. The same treatment had no effect on the number of CD4+ spleen T lymphocytes, which, however, did not enlarge during infection, but these cells' heightened DNA synthesis and cytokine production were reduced by antibody treatment; yet the generation of antiviral antibodies remained unaffected, and the CD4+ T lymphocyte‐mediated second part of the footpad reaction was somewhat augmented. We conclude that blocking of the interleukin‐2 receptor by antibody in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus‐infected mice diminishes both CD8+ and CD4+ T cell‐mediated antiviral immune responses, the former more than the latter.