IMMUNOLOGICAL-TOLERANCE TO LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS IN NEONATALLY INFECTED VIRUS CARRIER MICE - EVIDENCE SUPPORTING A CLONAL INACTIVATION MECHANISM

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 34  (2) , 265-275
Abstract
No cell-mediated immunity against LCM [lymphocytic choriomeningitis] virus-infected cells can be detected in neonatally established LCM virus carrier mice suggesting that they are immunologically tolerant to virally-altered cell membrane antigens. Experiments are described aimed at analyzing the mechanism. Virus-specific cell-mediated immunity was assessed by 51Cr release and target cell reduction assays. Attempts to demonstrate cells in spleens of CBA/J carrier mice able to suppress in syngeneic recipients the induction or the effector phase of the cytotoxic T[thymus derived]-cell response against LCM virus-infected cells were unsuccessful. No factors were detected in CBA/J and C57BL/6J carrier mice, either spleen cell-associated or free in the circulation, which would block the activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes against LCM virus-infected syngeneic target cells. Inability of LCM virus carrier mice to act immunologically against virus-infected target cells is due to deletion or irreversible inactivation of T lymphocytes carrying receptors for virally altered cell membrane antigens.