In vivo expression of perforin by natural killer cells during a viral infection. Studies on uveitis produced by herpes simplex virus type I.
A potent cytolytic pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin, or cytolysin) is associated with the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. The role of PFP/perforin in cytolytic reactions carried out in vivo is still unclear. Here, the authors performed immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies monospecific for perforin and made use of a murine uveitis model produced by intracameral inoculation of herpes simplex virus I (HSV-I). The main cell infiltrate found in the anterior segment of virus-inoculated eyes consisted of Thy-1+/asialo GM1+/CD8-/CD4- cells, presumably representing NK cells. Perforin staining was detected mainly in cells bearing this phenotype. Perforin was only detected in cells displaying the large granular lymphocyte morphology. A small number of perforin-positive cells (less than 5%) colabeled as CD8+, indicating that these cells could have belonged to the CTL lineage. These observations show for the first time the presence of perforin-containing NK cells in tissues of animals undergoing acute viral infections.
Retina Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
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Young
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Foster
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Young
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D014605:Uveitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D007106:Immune Sera; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; C018835:asialo GM1 ganglioside