RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Lathbury, Louise J. A1 Allan, Jane E. A1 Shellam, Geoffrey R. A1 Scalzo, Anthony A.YR 1996 T1 Effect of host genotype in determining the relative roles of natural killer cells and T cells in mediating protection against murine cytomegalovirus infection JF Journal of General Virology, VO 77 IS 10 SP 2605 OP 2613 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-77-10-2605 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The influence of host genotype on the relative importance of T cell subsets and natural killer (NK) cells in controlling murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) replication has been investigated. Genetically susceptible BALB/c and A/J, moderately resistant C57BL/10, and resistant CBA/CaH mouse strains were treated with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to the CD4 and CD8 markers and the extent of MCMV replication in major target tissues was determined. Both mouse strain-specific and tissue-specific effects were observed. CBA/CaH and C57BL/10 mice were found not to require CD4+ or CD8+ T cells for control of MCMV replication in the spleen or liver. In contrast, in A/J mice, as well as BALB/c mice, the CD8+ T cell population was primarily responsible for the clearance of virus from these tissues. However, in all strains of mice, CD4+ T cells were required for delayed type hypersensitivity and antibody responses, and for virus clearance in the salivary glands. The dependence of mice with the BALB genetic background on CD8+ T cells for limitation of acute MCMV infection was found to be negated in the BALB.B6-Cmv1r congenic strain, in which an effective NK cell response has been generated through the introduction of the resistant Cmv1r allele from C57BL/6 mice. Depletion of NK cells in the BALB.B6-Cmv1r strain using anti-NK1.1 MAb restored the role of CD8+ T cells in mediating viral clearance. These analyses demonstrate that some, but not all, strains of mice use CD8+ T cells to controlMCMV replication and that even when CD8+ T cell-dependence exists, this can be circumvented by an appropriate NK cell response., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-77-10-2605