Characterization of Virus‐Induced Interferon‐γ Responses in Mice Previously Infected with Murine Cytomegalovirus

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Abstract
These studies demonstrate that in vitro stimulation of spleen cells from murine cytomega-lovirus (MCMV) immune mice with MCMV-infected fibroblasts induces production of interferon (IFN)–γ. This response is specific to MCMV, is not generalized to heterologous viruses, and also is not H-2 restricted. Both early and late CMV antigens induce IFN-γ. In in vitro cell depletion and direct cell selection experiments, T lymphocytes were responsible for IFN-γ production. Although both CD4 and CD8 cells appear to be required to induce the response, the cell subset that releases the IFN-γ is not yet undefined. In vivo, this IFN-γ response appears early after acute infection and persists ⩾1 year. The response is not seen in T cell–deficient mice. Thus, previous MCMV infection results in a virus-specific IFN-γ response in spleen cells exposed to MCMV antigens. The pathophysiologic significance of these observations is now under study

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