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Murine γ-herpesvirus 68 causes severe large-vessel arteritis in mice lacking interferon-γ responsiveness: A new model for virus-induced vascular disease

Nature Medicine volume 3, pages 1346–1353 (1997)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 March 1998

Abstract

Fundamental issues remain unresolved regarding the possible contribution of viruses to vascular pathology, as well as the role of the immune system in regulating these processes. Here we demonstrate that infection of mice with γ-herpesvirus 68 (γHV68) provides a novel model for addressing these issues. Interferon-γ receptor-deficient (IFNγR−/−) mice died weeks to months after γHV68 infection from a severe large-vessel panarteritis. γHV68-infected B cell-deficient and normal weanling mice exhibited milder large-vessel arteritis. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated γHV68 antigen in arteritic lesions and revealed a striking tropism of γHV68 for smooth muscle cells. These studies demonstrate that IFN-γ is essential for control of chronic vascular pathology induced by γHV68 and suggest γ-herpesviruses as candidate etiologic agents for human vasculitis.

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Author notes

  1. Karen E. Weck and Albert J. Dal Canto: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA

    Karen E. Weck, Albert J. Dal Canto, James D. Gould, Andrew K. O'Guin, Kevin A. Roth, Jeffrey E. Saffitz, Samuel H. Speck & Herbert W. Virgin

  2. Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA

    Karen E. Weck, Albert J. Dal Canto, James D. Gould, Andrew K. O'Guin, Kevin A. Roth, Jeffrey E. Saffitz, Samuel H. Speck & Herbert W. Virgin

  3. Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA

    Samuel H. Speck & Herbert W. Virgin

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Weck, K., Dal Canto, A., Gould, J. et al. Murine γ-herpesvirus 68 causes severe large-vessel arteritis in mice lacking interferon-γ responsiveness: A new model for virus-induced vascular disease. Nat Med 3, 1346–1353 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1297-1346

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