Natural killer cell activity in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected β₂-microglobulin-deficient mice

We have investigated the induction and role of natural killer (NK) activity in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-infected β₂-microglobulin-deficient (β₂m^-) mice. We demonstrate that LCMV infection is more effective than polyinosinic:poiycytidylic acid (poly I:C) at stimulating NK activity in β₂m^- .In addition, β₂m^- NK cells respond poorly to in vitro treatment with IL-12. The target specificity of the virally induced NK cells is similar to that previously reported for chemically induced β₂m^- NK cells. In both cases they can lyse YAC-1 tumor cells but are unable to kill β₂m^- orβ₂m⁺ T cell blasts. We have also found that the time course of induction of NK and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by LCMV in β₂m^- mice is delayed compared with normal mice. Maximal NK and CTL activity is attained at day 8 and 10 post-infection respectively in β₂m^- compared with day 4 and 6-8 in B6 mice. Whereas normal mice die ̃7 days following intracranial infection with LCMV, the course of disease in β₂^-m mice is protracted and characterized by a marked loss of body weight. We show that although the CD4⁺ CTL response in these mice is intimately involved in mediating weight loss, the virus-induced NK cells do not appear to play a role in the disease.