Different roles for L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ T cell subsets in the control of an acute herpes simplex virus infection of the skin and nervous system.
Rat monoclonal antibodies were used to deplete selectively Lyt 2 (cytotoxic) and L3T4 (helper) T cell populations in vivo. These antibodies produced greater than 95% depletion of the respective T cell subset as determined by fluorescent antibody and cytofluorographic analyses. Antibody-treated mice were infected in the ear pinna with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the induction of virus-specific T cell and antibody responses were monitored during the acute infection. Lyt 2-deficient mice produced delayed hypersensitivity and HSV-specific antibodies comparable to those in untreated animals. However, major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted T cell killing was abolished. In contrast, L3T4-deficient animals failed to produce either primary delayed hypersensitivity response or specific antibodies to the virus, but cytotoxic T cell responses were induced and even augmented in comparison with infected, normal animals. This observation clearly demonstrates that Lyt 2 cytotoxic T cells can be induced in a helper T cell-deficient environment. The ability of T cell subset-deficient mice to clear infectious virus was investigated in the skin of the ear and the part of the nervous system innervating the site of infection. L3T4-deficient animals showed a markedly delayed clearance of virus from the ear and also had a more florid infection of the nervous system. However, Lyt 2-deficient mice cleared the infection in the ear normally, but a severe infection of the nervous system was still observed. The implication of these observations to the pathogenesis of this virus is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal