Suidan, Georgette L.

Abstract Blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a common feature of neurological disease. We developed a novel model of CD8 T cell mediated BBB disruption using the Theilers murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model of multiple sclerosis. At 7 days post TMEV infection, 50-70% of CNS infiltrating CD8 T cells are specific for an immunodominant virus peptide VP2 121-130 presented in the context of the Db class I molecule. Intravenous injection of VP2 121-130 peptide at 7 days post TMEV infection results in severe CNS vascular permeability and death in the C57BL/6 mouse strain. Despite having an identical CD8 T cell response, 129 SvIm mice survive administration of the VP2 121-130 peptide. We performed bone marrow transplants to determine if a hematopoetic factor was responsible for this fatal syndrome. 129 SvIm mice were reconstituted with C57BL/6 or autologous 129 SvIm bone marrow. Similar brain infiltration and purity of transplanted CD8 T cells was observed during acute TMEV infection in reconstituted mice. However, 129 SvIm mice reconstituted with C57BL/6 bone marrow had increased microhemorrhage formation as measured by T2* weighted MRI and became moribund. Meanwhile, 129 SvIm mice receiving an autologous bone marrow transplant had significantly less microhemorrhage formation and remained resistant to becoming moribund. These studies demonstrate that a hematopoetic factor is responsible for the onset of brain microhemorrhage in immune mediated fatal BBB disruption.