Cutting Edge: The T Cell Chemoattractant IFN-Inducible Protein 10 Is Essential in Host Defense Against Viral-Induced Neurologic Disease

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 165; no. 5; pp. 2327 - 2330
• Main Authors: Liu, Michael T, Chen, Benjamin P, Oertel, Patricia, Buchmeier, Michael J, Armstrong, David, Hamilton, Thomas A, Lane, Thomas E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Am Assoc Immnol 01-09-2000
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.5.2327

The contribution of the T cell chemoattractant chemokine IFN-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) in host defense following viral infection of the CNS was examined. IP-10 is expressed by astrocytes during acute encephalomyelitis in mouse hepatitis virus-infected mice, and the majority of T lymphocytes infiltrating into the CNS expressed the IP-10 receptor CXCR3. Treatment of mice with anti-IP-10 antisera led to increased mortality and delayed viral clearance from the CNS as compared with control mice. Further, administration of anti-IP-10 led to a >70% reduction (p ≤ 0.001) in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration into the CNS, which correlated with decreased (p ≤ 0.01) levels of IFN-γ. These data indicate that IP-10 functions as a sentinel molecule in host defense and is essential in the development of a protective Th1 response against viral infection of the CNS.