Induction of hypoglycaemia in Japanese encephalitis virus infection: the role of T lymphocytes.

We report here development of hypoglycaemia in the convalescent phase of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in mice by the induction of antigen-specific Ly1- 2+ T cells in the spleen which mediate hypoglycaemia through the generation of soluble T cell hypoglycaemic factor (TCHF). The TCHF acted in a dose-dependent manner and was found to be trypsin-sensitive and thermolabile. It was purified on Superose-12 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration column and purified protein migrated as a approximately 25-kD band on SDS-PAGE. The JEV-induced hypoglycaemia coincided with an increased circulating glucagon level, without any alterations in blood insulin and growth hormone concentrations. These effects were mimicked by TCHF. These results indicate that JEV-primed T lymphocytes mediate hypoglycaemia through the production of a soluble hypoglycaemic factor.