Cytotoxic T lymphocytes cleanse viral gene products from individually infected neurons and lymphocytes in mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Lymphocytes and/or monocytes/macrophages carry viral genetic information in most, if not all, persistent and latent viral infections, and serve as potential reservoirs for maintaining or reintroducing the infection. Similarly, neurons can be persistently infected by several DNA and RNA viruses whose continued presence can alter the physiologic function of these cells, leading to disorders in neurotransmitters and disease. Here, we document that adoptive transfer of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes clears virus and viral nucleic acid sequences, in vivo, from individually infected lymphocytes, macrophages, and neurons. By plaquing, infectious center, Northern blot, and in situ hybridization at the single cell level, virus was efficiently removed from these cells.