B-Cell-Mediated Lysis of Cells Infected with the Neurotropic JHM Strain of Mouse Hepatitis Virus

Cells expressing the spike (S) glycoprotein of the neurotropic JHM strain (JHMV) of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) are susceptible to lysis by B cells derived from naïve mice, including B cells from perforin-deficient mice. Cytolysis requires interaction of the virus receptor and the viral S glycoprotein, is independent of other viral-induced components, and is not a unique property of B cells. Neutralizing anti-S-protein monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and a mAb specific for the viral receptor inhibit lysis. However, cells infected with an MHV strain unable to induce cell–cell fusion are resistant to lysis and lysis of JHMV-infected cells is inhibited by an anti-S-protein nonneutralizing mAb which prevents S-protein-mediated cell fusion. These data suggest that B cells may function as antibody-independent innate immune response during JHMV infection in vivo.