Inflammation and Macrophage Loss Mark Increased Susceptibility in a Genetic Model of Acute Viral Infection-Induced Tissue Damage

M.R2k/b mice are identical to the MA/My parent strain aside from a 5.58-Mb C57L-derived region on chromosome 17 (Cmv5s) that causes increased susceptibility to acute murine CMV (MCMV) infection and the development of significant spleen tissue damage. Spleen pathology begins at the marginal zone (MZ), apparent by 2 d postinfection (dpi), and progresses throughout the red pulp by 4 dpi. To better understand how M.R2k/b mice respond to infection and how Cmv5s contributes to tissue damage in the spleen, we assessed the regulation of myeloid cells and inflammation during acute MCMV infection in MA/My and M.R2k/b mice. We found that Cmv5s drove increased neutrophil accumulation and cell death at the MZ, which corresponded with evidence of localized oxidative stress and increased overall spleen IL-6 and TGF-β1 early during infection. Further assessment of MCMV infection dynamics at the early MZ revealed infected SIGNR1+ MZ macrophages as the first apparent cell type lost during infection in these mice and the likely target of early neutrophil recruitment. Spleen macrophages were also identified as the mediators of differential spleen IL-6 and TGF-β1 between MA/My and M.R2k/b mice. Interrogation of MCMV progression past 2 dpi revealed substantial M.R2k/b F480+ red pulp macrophage loss along with buildup of oxidative stress and MZ macrophage debris that was not neutrophil dependent. Together we identify Cmv5s-driven macrophage loss and inflammation during acute MCMV infection corresponding with the spatial and temporal development of spleen tissue damage.