Role of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T Cells in Mouse Hepatitis Virus Infection in Mice

Abstract

Viral growth and histopathological changes in the liver after intraperitoneal infection with mouse hepatitis virus, strain JHM were compared among normal C57BL/6 mice, those depleted of CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells and both T cell subsets. Viral growth in mice depleted of CD4⁺ T cells increased slightly, but pathological changes resembled those in normal mice. In contrast, the hepatitis was exacerbated in mice depleted of CD8⁺ T cells and those depleted of both T cell subsets. These results suggest that CD8⁺ T cells play a key role although both T cell subsets are involved in protection against mouse hepatitis virus infection in mice.