FIG. 7.

Effects of specific immune suppression induced with peptide-conjugated splenocytes on disease development. (A) CNS-infiltrating T cells specific for viral epitopes in mice treated with sham, SP or NSP-conjugated splenocytes at 7 days postinfection. (B) Courses of disease development in the recipient mice (n = 10 per group) of sham- or peptide-treated splenocytes. The statistical differences in disease levels between sham and peptide groups during 21 to 63 days postinfection were analyzed by using a paired two-tailed t test. The difference between groups receiving sham- and SP-treated splenocytes was not significant. Experimental groups receiving sham- or SP-treated splenocytes and NSP-treated splenocytes were significantly different (P < 0.001). (C) Representative histologic examination of spinal cords from each experimental group. Adjacent sections of spinal cords from mice at 80 days postinfection were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or Luxol-fast blue. Scale bar, 100 μm. (D) The levels of viral persistence in the CNS of each group were measured by using real-time PCR at 8, 21, and 80 days postinfection (DPI). Triplicate analysis of cDNAs prepared from pooled brains and spinal cords (three to five mice/group) was performed. Similar patterns were observed in a separate PCR and plaque assay experiment.