Natural killer cell mediated pathogenesis determines outcome of central nervous system infection with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in C3H/HeN mice

Vaccine. 2012 Jun 8;30(27):4095-105. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.03.076. Epub 2012 Apr 21.

Abstract

TC83 is a human vaccine with investigational new drug status and is used as a prototype Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus for pathogenesis and antiviral research. Differing from other experimental models, the virus causes high titer infection in the brain and 90-100% mortality in the C3H/HeN murine model. To better characterize the susceptibility to disease development in C3H/HeN mice, we have analyzed the gene transcriptomes and cytokine production in the brains of infected mice. Our analysis indicated the potential importance of natural killer cells in the encephalitic disease development. This paper describes for the first time a pathogenic role for natural killer cells in VEEV encephalitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / immunology*
  • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / pathogenicity*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / immunology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / mortality
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / pathology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Cytokines