Virus Elimination in Acute Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Correlation with Virus‐Specific Delayed‐Type Hypersensitivity rather than Cytotoxicity

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Abstract
The immunological effector mechanism responsible for the elimination of virus in murine acute non-fatal extracranial lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection was studied. In this infection virus clearance is generally regarded as the result of a direct action of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells (Tc cells) on virus-producing target cells in the infected mouse. By manipulating the antiviral immune response by pretreatment with various doses of cyclophosphamide, lack of correlation between Tc-cell activity and the clearance of virus was found. A conspicuous correlation between the host''s ability to mount a virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and its capacity to combat virus was observed. Pretreatment with silica and carragheenan prolonged viremia without impairment of the peak Tc-cell response. Evidently, Tc cells have little or no capacity to eliminate virus, at least in the absence of an inflammatory response, and the findings suggest that virus clearance reflects a DTH-like process.

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