Submitted May 17, 2006
Accepted September 5, 2006
Control of coronavirus infection through plasmacytoid dendritic cell-derived type I interferon
Luisa Cervantes-Barragan, Roland Zust, Friedemann Weber, Martin Spiegel, Karl S. Lang, Shizuo Akira, Volker Thiel, and Burkhard Ludewig*
Research Dept, Kantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
Institut fur Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Germany
Institute of Experimental Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Dept of Host Defense, Osaka University, Japan.
* Corresponding author; email: burkhard.ludewig{at}kssg.ch.
This study demonstrates a unique and crucial role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and pDC-derived type I interferons (IFNs) in the pathogenesis of mouse coronavirus infection. pDCs controlled the fast replicating mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) through the immediate production of type I IFNs. Recognition of MHV by pDCs was mediated via TLR7 ensuring a swift IFN-
production following encounter with this cytopathic RNA virus. Furthermore, the particular type I IFN response pattern was not restricted to the murine coronavirus, but also found in infection with the highly cytopathic human severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. Taken together, our results suggest that rapid production of type I IFNs by pDCs is essential for the control of potentially lethal coronavirus infections.
