title: Direct recovery of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific T lymphocyte clones from recurrent genital HSV-2 lesions.
abstract: T lymphocytes were recovered from recurrent vesicular and ulcerative herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) lesions from 4 patients and cloned without exogenous secondary antigenic stimulation. Resultant cultures were screened for antigen-specific proliferative and cytotoxic responses. Of the 39 HSV-specific clones recovered, all were CD3-positive; 38 were CD4-positive and 1 was CD8-positive. Of the T cell clones recovered directly from lesions, 6%-10% had HSV-specific proliferative responses, in contrast to a peripheral blood precursor frequency of HSV-specific CD4 cells of approximately 1/10(3) to 1/10(4) as measured by limiting dilution assays. CD4+ clones studied restricted by HLA-DR, -DP, and -DQ were detected and both type-common and type-specific CD4+ T cell clones were recovered. HSV-specific T cells localize to recurrent human genital HSV-2 lesions and can be obtained directly from early lesions. The ability to isolate HSV-specific T cell clones from lesions allows the study of antigenic specificities and functional properties of tissue-resident antigen-specific T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98144.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Koelle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abbo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ziegweid
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002469:Cell Separation; D002999:Clone Cells; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens