Depletion of CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells, leads to an enhanced immune-mediated interstitial pneumonitis and delayed clearance of SARS-CoV from the lungs in a SARS-CoV-infected mouse model, demonstrating the vital role of CD4+ T cells in preventing SARS-CoV infection [27]. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and Interstitial pneumonitis.