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Virus-Induced Demyelination in Nude Mice Is Mediated by γδ T Cells
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Virus-Induced Demyelination in Nude Mice Is Mediated by γδ T Cells

Ajai A Dandekar and Stanley Perlman
American Journal of Pathology, Vol.161(4), pp.1255-1263
2002
DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)64402-1
PMCID: PMC1867296
PMID: 12368199
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9440(10)64402-1View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Infection of mice with mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), strain JHM, results in acute and chronic demyelination with many similarities to the human disease multiple sclerosis. This pathological process is primarily T cell-mediated and MHV infection of mice lacking B and T cells does not result in demyelination. In apparent contradiction to these results, robust demyelination is detected in MHV-infected young nude (athymic) mice. Herein, we show that demyelination in nude mice was mediated by gamma delta T cells. These cells, but not conventional CD4 or CD8 alpha beta T cells, were detected in the central nervous system of MHV-infected nude mice and their depletion with neutralizing antibody resulted in an 80% reduction in demyelination. These results show, for the first time, that gamma delta T cells can substitute for alpha beta T cells in a virus model of demyelination and further support a pathological role for gamma delta T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.
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