The functional role of ELR-positive CXC chemokines in host defense
during acute viral-induced encephalomyelitis was determined. Inoculation
of the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) into the
central nervous system (CNS) of mice resulted in the rapid mobilization
of PMNs expressing the chemokine receptor CXCR2 into the blood.
Migration of PMNs to the CNS coincided with increased expression of
transcripts specific for the CXCR2 ELR-positive chemokine ligands CXCL1,
CXCL2, and CXCL5 within the brain. Treatment of JHMV-infected mice with
anti-CXCR2 blocking antibody reduced PMN trafficking into the CNS by
>95%, dampened MMP-9 activity, and abrogated blood-brain-barrier
(BBB) breakdown. Correspondingly, CXCR2 neutralization resulted in
diminished infiltration of virus-specific T cells, an inability to
control viral replication within the brain, and 100% mortality. Blocking
CXCR2 signaling did not impair the generation of virus-specific T
cells, indicating that CXCR2 is not required to tailor anti-JHMV T cell
responses. Evaluation of mice in which CXCR2 is genetically silenced
(CXCR2-/- mice) confirmed that PMNs neither expressed CXCR2 nor migrated
in response to ligands CXCL1, CXCL2, or CXCL5 in an in vitro chemotaxis
assay. Moreover, JHMV infection of CXCR2-/- mice resulted in an
approximate 60% reduction of PMN migration into the CNS, yet these mice
survived infection and controlled viral replication within the brain.
Treatment of JHMV-infected CXCR2-/- mice with anti-CXCR2 antibody did
not modulate PMN migration nor alter viral clearance or mortality,
indicating the existence of compensatory mechanisms that facilitate
sufficient migration of PMNs into the CNS in the absence of CXCR2.
Collectively, these findings highlight a previously unappreciated role
for ELR-positive chemokines in enhancing host defense during acute viral
infections of the CNS.
Read More: A protective role for ELR+ chemokines during acute viral encephalomyelitis.