Characterization of Ross River Virus Tropism and Virus-Induced Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Viral Arthritis and Myositis

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.80.2.737-749.2006
• Publication Date: 2005-12-26T15:38:17Z
• Authors: Thomas E. Morrison; Alan C. Whitmore; Reed S. Shabman; Brett A. Lidbury; Suresh Mahalingam; Mark T. Heise
• Keywords: Alphavirus infection; Ross River virus; Tissue tropism; Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT Mosquito-borne alphaviruses are a significant cause of both encephalitic and arthritic disease in humans worldwide. In contrast to the alphaviruses, pathogenesis alphavirus-induced is not well understood. Utilizing mouse model Ross River virus (RRV) disease, we found that primary targets RRV infection bone, joint, skeletal muscle tissues hind limbs outbred CD-1 mice adult C57BL/6J mice. Moreover, histological analyses demonstrated resulted severe inflammation these tissues. Characterization inflammatory infiltrate within tissue identified macrophages, NK cells, CD4 + CD8 T lymphocytes. To determine contribution adaptive immune system, outcome RRV-induced was examined RAG-1 −/− mice, which lack functional B wild-type developed similar signs, infiltration macrophages pathology, suggesting response does play critical role development disease. These results establish as useful system for identification viral host factors contribute arthritis myositis.