Effect of perforin-mediated cytotoxicity on systemic defense mechanisms against primary influenza virus infection / 中国免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect of perforin-mediated cytotoxicity in primary influenza virus infection.Methods:Perforin-deficient and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally with influenza virus A/PR/8/34. Pulmonary viral growth was determined at various days after infection by pfu experiment. Perforin-mediated apoptotic degeneration was observed by Immunohistochemical staining. LDH-release method was used for detection of specific CTL and NK cell activity from spleen cells.Results:Mice deficient in the perforin gene showed an increased virus growth and prolonged virus shedding. The appearance of apoptotic degeneration in virally infected lung cells was delayed in perforin-deficient mice. The cytolytic activities of natural killer cells and virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were significantly lower than that of wild-type mice.Conclusion:Perforin plays a critical role in the host defense system against primary influenza virus infection.