Role of CXCR3 in the immune response to murine gammaherpesvirus 68

J Virol. 2005 Jul;79(14):9351-5. doi: 10.1128/JVI.79.14.9351-9355.2005.

Abstract

The chemokine IP-10 (CXCL10) and its cellular receptor CXCR3 are upregulated in the lung during murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) infection. In order to determine the role of the CXCR3 chemokine receptor in the immune response to MHV-68, CXCR3-/- mice were infected with the virus. CXCR3-/- mice showed delayed clearance of replicating MHV-68 from the lungs. This correlated with delayed T-cell recruitment to the lungs and reduced cytolytic activity prior to viral clearance. Splenomegaly and the numbers of latently infected cells per spleen were transiently increased. However, CXCR3-/- mice showed normal virus-specific antibody titers and effective long-term control of MHV-68 infection.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine / physiology*
  • Rhadinovirus / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Cxcr3 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine