Murine -herpesvirus 68 causes severe large-vessel arteritis in mice lacking interferon- responsiveness: A new model for virus-induced vascular disease

Fundamental issues remain unresolved regarding the possible contribution of viruses to vascular pathology, as well as the role of the immune system in regulating these processes. Here we demonstrate that infection of mice with -herpesvirus 68 (HV68) provides a novel model for addressing these issues. Interferon- receptor-deficient (IFNR^-/-) mice died weeks to months after HV68 infection from a severe large-vessel panarteritis. HV68-infected B cell-deficient and normal weanling mice exhibited milder large-vessel arteritis. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated HV68 antigen in arteritic lesions and revealed a striking tropism of HV68 for smooth muscle cells. These studies demonstrate that IFN- is essential for control of chronic vascular pathology induced by HV68 and suggest -herpesviruses as candidate etiologic agents for human vasculitis.

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