Lethal vaccinia infection in cyclophosphamide-suppressed mice is associated with decreased expression of Thy-1, Lyt-2 and L3T4 and diminished IL-2 production in surviving T cells.

Prior treatment of C57BL/6J mice with 300 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide (Cy) converts a subclinical infection with vaccinia virus to a lethal disease. This is accompanied by a loss of more than 80% of spleen cells and a decreased capacity, on a cell-for-cell basis, to develop virus-immune cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), although the frequency of CTL precursors among surviving T cells is not greatly modified. Phenotypically, the surviving T cells express low levels of cell-surface Thy-1, Lyt-2 and L3T4 and, upon stimulation, are less able to produce IL-2 for more than 1 week following Cy treatment. The defect in capacity to generate CTL effectors both in vitro and in vivo can be corrected by providing an exogenous source of IL-2. These experiments indicate that a single dose of Cy induces changes in T cells that persist throughout the development of an immune response. Such effects are in accordance with the known property of Cy to mediate DNA damage.