Effect of Japanese encephalitis virus-induced suppressor cells on Fc-receptor function of mouse macrophages

Abstract

During Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection Fe receptor-mediated attachment of opsonized sheep erythrocytes (EA) by macrophages was significantly depressed. The capacity of macrophages to attach EA reached the lowest point on day 18 following intraperitoneal inoculation of JEV and then recovered gradually, but remained less than the controls. We have observed earlier that T lymphocytes of JEV infected mouse spleen produce a suppressor factor on the 18th day p.i. The present study shows that JEV-induced supressor cells have a variable effect on the activity of macrophages. The second generation of the suppressor T cells (Ts₂) significantly depressed the Fc-receptor-mediated attachment of EA. Futher simultaneous administration of JEV and suppressor factor (SF) resulted in early depression in macrophage Fc-receptor-mediated attachment of EA compared to JEV alone. Thus SF appears to protect the compared to JEV alone. Thus SF appears to protect the cells by inhibiting the entry if virus into macrophages.