Bacterial modulation of the cellular immune response in mice. II. Stimulation by endotoxin of the reduced cellular immune response to LCM virus infection in aged mice.

Aging mice treated with radio-detoxified endotoxin and subsequently inoculated intracerebrally with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus died earlier and in a higher rate than the virus infected and otherwise untreated controls. Thus, in mice with insufficient T lymphocyte function due to aging, the radio-detoxified endotoxin pretreatment contributed to the outcome of LCM virus infection in the form of lethal meningitis. That indicates a stimulatory effect on the reduced cellular immunological reaction to the virus infection.