Neurons are essential and nonrenewable cells; consequently, irreversible CNS disease could result from either replication of a cytotoxic virus, or from cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated lysis of infected neurons. To protect against these outcomes, immune strategies must exist to eliminate CNS pathogens with a minimum of neuronal death. We have obtained evidence to suggest that measles virus-infected neurons produce chemokines that specifically recruit T lymphocytes into the CNS, implicating a crucial role for neurons in the initiation of the anti-viral immune response. Moreover, clearance of measles virus is associated with massive T cell infiltration, which eliminates the virus without concomitant neuronal death. Importantly, while these processes occur in adult mice, neonates succumb to CNS infection, despite mounting a robust immune response. In the proposed studies, a combination of neuronal cell culture systems and a novel transgenic mouse model will be used to characterize the basis for noncytopathic clearance of measles virus from infected neurons. Because infection of these mice is governed by the transgenic expression of the human receptor, virus infection is restricted to CNS neurons. This model will be used to address two fundamental, yet unresolved questions: 1) How do chemokines, synthesized within the immune-privileged environment of the CNS, result in recruitment of the antiviral response?, and 2) What is the mechanism of noncytolytic inhibition of virus replication in neurons? The long-term goals of our research are to understand how noncytolytic antiviral defenses are regulated, and to compare these findings to cases in which these defenses fail. Ultimately, the results of these studies will be used to determine how the immune response may have evolved to eliminate damaging pathogens while preserving a critical cell population. Understanding the mechanism by which this occurs will inform the development of immune-based strategies to resolve viral infections associated with human mental illness and disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS040500-02
Application #
6624163
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-4 (01))
Program Officer
Nunn, Michael
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2007-03-31
Budget Start
2003-04-01
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$319,200
Indirect Cost
Name
Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064367329
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19111
Miller, Katelyn D; Rall, Glenn F (2017) What Kaplan-Meier survival curves don't tell us about CNS disease. J Neuroimmunol 308:25-29
Solomos, Andreas C; O'Regan, Kevin J; Rall, Glenn F (2016) CD4+ T cells require either B cells or CD8+ T cells to control spread and pathogenesis of a neurotropic infection. Virology 499:196-202
Solomos, Andreas C; Rall, Glenn F (2016) Get It through Your Thick Head: Emerging Principles in Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology Redefine Central Nervous System ""Immune Privilege"". ACS Chem Neurosci 7:435-41
O'Donnell, Lauren A; Henkins, Kristen M; Kulkarni, Apurva et al. (2015) Interferon gamma induces protective non-canonical signaling pathways in primary neurons. J Neurochem 135:309-22
Holmgren, Alicia M; Miller, Katelyn D; Cavanaugh, Sarah E et al. (2015) Bst2/Tetherin Is Induced in Neurons by Type I Interferon and Viral Infection but Is Dispensable for Protection against Neurotropic Viral Challenge. J Virol 89:11011-8
Cavanaugh, Sarah E; Holmgren, Alicia M; Rall, Glenn F (2015) Homeostatic interferon expression in neurons is sufficient for early control of viral infection. J Neuroimmunol 279:11-9
Podolsky, Michael A; Solomos, Andreas C; Durso, Lisa C et al. (2012) Extended JAK activation and delayed STAT1 dephosphorylation contribute to the distinct signaling profile of CNS neurons exposed to interferon-gamma. J Neuroimmunol 251:33-8
O'Donnell, Lauren A; Conway, Stephen; Rose, R Wesley et al. (2012) STAT1-independent control of a neurotropic measles virus challenge in primary neurons and infected mice. J Immunol 188:1915-23
Matullo, Christine M; O'Regan, Kevin J; Curtis, Mark et al. (2011) CNS recruitment of CD8+ T lymphocytes specific for a peripheral virus infection triggers neuropathogenesis during polymicrobial challenge. PLoS Pathog 7:e1002462
O'Donnell, Lauren A; Rall, Glenn F (2010) Blue moon neurovirology: the merits of studying rare CNS diseases of viral origin. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 5:443-55

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