Gene expression contributing to recruitment of circulating cells in response to vesicular stomatitis virus infection of the CNS.

During acute Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) infection of the mouse central nervous system, neutrophils, natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are recruited from the circulation in response to chemokines and cytokines. This study elucidated the production of these factors and infiltration of these peripheral cells. Chemokines that were observed included CCL1, CXCL10 (IP-10), CCL5 (RANTES), CCL3 (MIP-1alpha), CCL4 (MIP-1beta), CXCL1 (MIP-2), CCL2 (MCP-1), and CCL11 (eotaxin). Cytokines produced in response to the infection include IL-1 and interferon-gamma, but not type I interferons. Neutrophils are the first recruited cell type, appearing as early as 24 h after intranasal application of the virus. NK cells follow, but T cells are not detected until 6 days postinfection.