title: Natural killer cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity to herpes simplex virus-infected target cells in murine pregnancy.
abstract: In vitro natural killer cytotoxicity (NKC) and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells were evaluated in a pregnant murine model (C57Bl6 inbred strain). Virgin (n = 16) and pregnant (late gestation) mice (n = 15) were infected intraperitoneally with HSV, type 1. After 18 hr, a 0.5-ml aliquot of the peritoneal wash was frozen for virus plaque assay, and the cells were cultured in the 51chromium release assay for NKC and ADCC. %NKC (mean +/- S.E.) to HSV-infected targets was significantly suppressed (P less than 0.05) in pregnant mice, 10.3% +/- 1.9, compared to that of virgin mice, 32.5% +/- 2.5. This suppression was abrogated with HSV-specific antisera (%ADCC); 53.9% +/- 4.4 (pregnant) compared to 49.1% +/- 3.6 (virgin). The diminished NKC activity in pregnant mice was reflected in an increased mean number of virus particles in the peritoneal wash, 266 +/- 66 PFU/ml, compared to 38 +/- 11 PFU/ml in virgin mice (P less than 0.05). We concluded that NKC, but not ADCC, to HSV-infected targets was suppressed and that HSV elimination was impaired in pregnant mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Loftin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gonik
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumaran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay