Establishment Of Wasp-deficient Mice Model Of Acute Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection And Its Characteristics

Objective To establish a WASP-deficient mouse(129S6/SvEvTac-Wastm1Sbs/J) model of cytomegalovirus-inducedsystemic infection with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV).Methods WAS-null mice were randomly chosen as model group andblank control group respectively. Each group was6. They were infectedwith1×105PFU MCMV by intraperitoneal administration. Six WASp+/+mice were used as control．All experimental mice were sacrificed9daysafter the intraperitoneal injection．Tissue samples from each experimentalmouse were collected under aseptic conditions．Salivary glands were takenfor virus separation and titer test. The histological changes of the mainvisceral organs and tissues were examined and MCMV gB detected byRT-PCR. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of MCMVcytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in splenic lymphocytes from model groupand control group.Results The infected mice showed body weight reduction, growthretardation, salivary gland swelling in both groups. Although the level of MCMV mRNA were positive in both groups, significantly higher level inWAS-deficient group than in the control group (P<0.05) was confirmed. NoMCMV mRNA was detected in mice without the infection.Histopathological changes in the livers，kidneys，lungs and hearts weremore obvious and sever acute infection in adult WASp-/-mice with lung asthe critical target organ. The proportion of MCMV CTLs in spleniclymphocytes was not significantly changed in each group (P=0.52).Conclusions Intraperitoneal injection of1×105PFU MCMV1×105PFU can cause more obvious and severe acute infection in adult WASp-/-mice with lung as the critical target organ. There was no obvious change inthe proportion of MCMV CTLs after the primary infection.