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.