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Evidence that NK cells and interferon are required for genetic resistance to lethal infection with ectromelia virus

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Summary

C 57 BL/6 mice developed resistance to lethal intravenous challenge with virulent (Moscow strain) ectromelia virus between 2 and 3 weeks of age. The fraction of C 57 BL/6 mice in which virus was detected in spleen was significantly lower than for DBA/2 mice by day 3. Thereafter, C 57 BL/6 mice had significantly reduced virus titers in spleen compared with those of DBA/2 mice. Resistance was abrogated by treatment with anti-asialo GM1 gammaglobulin, which blocks NK cell activity, or with anti-interferon (IFN) α, β. C 57 BL/6 mice carrying the bg/bg mutation, associated with a deficiency of NK cells, were highly susceptible to lethal infection as were athymic mice derived from a resistant genetic background. Virus titers in spleens of C 57 BL/6 mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 or anti-IFN α, β were significantly higher 4 days after virus challenge than were titers in C 57 BL/6 mice treated with normal rabbit serum. The results strongly suggest that genetic resistance to lethal ectromelia virus infection requires non-specific host defenses such as NK cells and IFN α, β that are activated during the first 3 to 4 days of infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    R. O. Jacoby, P. N. Bhatt & D. G. Brownstein

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  1. R. O. Jacoby
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  2. P. N. Bhatt
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  3. D. G. Brownstein
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Jacoby, R.O., Bhatt, P.N. & Brownstein, D.G. Evidence that NK cells and interferon are required for genetic resistance to lethal infection with ectromelia virus. Archives of Virology 108, 49–58 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313742

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313742

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