Restricted herpes simplex virus type 1 gene expression within sensory neurons in the absence of functional B and T lymphocytes.
Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) establishes a latent infection in sensory ganglion neurons. During latency no viral-specific proteins are detected and virus gene expression is restricted to the latency-associated transcripts. We report here that trigeminal ganglia of mice with severe combined immunodeficiency contain individual sensory neurons exhibiting restricted viral gene expression characteristic of latency; this occurred during acute (4-6 days) infection with the wild-type HSV-1 strain 17+ and after prolonged (4 weeks) infection with the replication impaired HSV-1 mutant in 1814. These results indicate that T and B lymphocytes, while important for the recovery from viral infections, are not required for the establishment or maintenance of latency in neurons.
Gesser
R M
RM
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
Valyi-Nagy
T
T
Fraser
N W
NW
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000382:microbiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000382:microbiology*; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger