The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response to sendai virus is unimpaired in the absence of gamma interferon

Abstract

Sendai virus is eliminated from the respiratory tract of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) -/- BALB/c mice with normal kinetics. The level of virus- specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity in the cell population recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage is unimpaired, the prevalence of interleukin-4 (IL-4)-producing cells is increased, and the titers of virus- specific immunoglobulins IgG1 and IgG2b are higher in the IFN-γ -/- mice. The emergence of this T-helper 2 response profile in both lymphoid tissue and the pneumonic long has no obvious deleterious consequences. Virus clearance is slightly delayed following depletion of the CD4+ subset, with the effect being similar in magnitude for IFN-γ -/- ..