Role of immune responses in protection and pathogenesis during Semliki Forest virus encephalitis

The course of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) A7(74) infection in immunocompetent BALB/c, athymic nu/nu and severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice was compared. BALB/c mice remained healthy and exhibited transient viraemia and infectious virus in the brain from days 2 to 7. Antibodies were detectable by day 5. In comparison, SCID mice displayed a high incidence of paralysis and died: the average day of death was day 23. From infection until death, virus was present in blood and brain. No antibodies were detectable. Athymic mice were intermediate with a transient viraemia and a persistent (> 210 days) sub-clinical central nervous system (CNS) infection. These mice produced anti-viral IgM but not IgG. The pattern of infection in BALB/c or nu/nu mice could be recreated in infected SCID mice by transfer of immune serum from BALB/c or nu/nu mice, with the important exception that although BALB/c immune serum could abolish infectivity titres in the CNS, scattered cells positive for viral RNA remained. Transfer of serum decreased mortality and delayed the onset of paralysis. Transfer to infected SCID mice of a non-neutralizing IgG anti-E2 monoclonal antibody did not affect the viraemia but could also reduce brain virus titres. Irrespective of specific immune responses, virus replication in CNS cells was restricted, was generally non-cytopathic and in the absence of specific immune responses could persist. From day 14 lesions of inflammatory, primary demyelination were observed throughout the CNS of BALB/c mice. In contrast, despite prolonged brain virus titres, no demyelinating lesions were observed in infected nu/nu or SCID mice. Lesions could be initiated in the latter by transfer of spleen cells but not antibody. In summary, the focal restricted infection in the CNS of adult mice infected with SFV A7(74) is independent of specific immune responses. IgM antibodies clear the viraemia. IgG antibodies including non-neutralizing antibodies reduce and clear infectious virus but cells positive for viral RNA remain. These may normally be cleared by T cell responses which are damaging and give rise to lesions of demyelination.