Alterations in chemokine expression following Theiler's virus infection and restraint stress

Restraint stress (RS) applied to mice during acute infection with Theiler's virus causes corticosterone-induced immunosuppression. This effect was further investigated by measuring chemokine changes in the spleen and central nervous system (CNS) using an RNase Protection Assay. mRNAs for lymphotactin (Ltn), interferon-induced protein-10 (IP-10), MIP-1ß, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and TCA-3 were detected in the spleen at day 2 pi, but not in the brain of CBA mice infected with Theiler's virus. Ltn, IP-10 and RANTES were elevated in both the spleen and the brain at day 7 pi, and were significantly decreased by RS in the brain. RS also resulted in decreased inflammation within the CNS.