A role for T lymphocytes in preventing experimental herpes simplex virus type 1-induced retinitis.
We have previously shown that herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) inoculated into the anterior chamber (AC) of one eye of BALB/c mice results in retinal destruction in the opposite eye while retinas in virus-injected eyes are preserved. In the present study, immunodeficient mice (athymic BALB/c or normal BALB/c which had received either gamma-irradiation [450 R] or cyclophosphamide [150 mg/kg treatment]), demonstrated bilateral retinal destruction upon unilateral AC inoculation of HSV-1. Reconstitution of these immunodeficient mice with spleen cells obtained from days 10-21 AC-inoculated donor mice, prior to AC inoculation of HSV-1, prevented retinal necrosis in more than 80% of both eyes. In contrast, donor cells from mice inoculated subcutaneously (SC) with HSV-1 preserved only about 30% of recipient retinas, regardless of the cell transfer time after donors received HSV-1. Normal unsensitized syngeneic donor spleen cells failed to prevent bilateral retinal necrosis in either athymic or irradiated BALB/c mice, although they eliminated recipient mortality. T cell depletion of AC- or SC-inoculated donor cells removed their retinal protective effects completely. These studies demonstrate an active role for T lymphocytes in controlling the extent of disease in a murine model of HSV-induced retinitis.
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000276:immunology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D003520:Cyclophosphamide