Fig. 1.

Kinetics of virus- and SR T cell responses during JHM v2.2-1 infection. Following intracerebral inoculation, JHM v2.2-1 replicates in the brain and spinal cord. Viral titers peak around d5 post infection (p.i.). CNS infiltration of virus-specific T cells is maximal between days 7–10 p.i. and essential to control infectious virus, which is no longer detectable after d14 p.i. Anti-viral T cell effector function triggers demyelination. Release of myelin antigen leads to activation of myelin-specific T cells. SR T cells peak around days 21–30 p.i., coincident with peak demyelination. At later time points during chronic infection, sustained demyelination is balanced by remyelination and associated with retention of both virus- and SR T cells at declining levels.