Persistence of measles virus in rat brain neurons is promoted by depletion of CD8+ T cells.

Fourteen-day-old Lewis rats were injected intracerebrally with the hamster neurotropic (HNT) strain of measles virus. At the same time, CD8+ T cytotoxic cells were eliminated by a single injection of a mouse monoclonal antibody (Ox8) directed against this lymphocyte phenotype. The lymphocyte depletion, which endured for more than 7 weeks, markedly reduced the elimination of measles virus antigen from the brain, but did not affect the induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in the early phase of infection. These results demonstrate a role for MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells in controlling persistence of measles virus infection in neurons.