CD4 T Cells Mediate Killing during Persistent Gammaherpesvirus 68 Infection

CD4 T cells are critical for the control of gammaherpesvirus persistence, but their direct effector mechanisms of virus control in vivo are still poorly understood. In this study, we use murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (gamma HV68) in in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity assays to show CD4-dependent killing of gamma HV68-loaded cells in mice persistently infected with gamma HV68. Our results underscore the cytotoxic capacity of CD4 T cells during gamma HV68 persistence.