High frequency of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors specific for herpes simplex viruses in persons with genital herpes.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have rarely been detected in humans, presumably because of virus-induced mechanisms that downregulate major histocompatibility complex class I expression. We have developed a method that has allowed us to consistently demonstrate HSV-specific CD8+ precursor CTL (pCTL) from HSV type 1- and 2-seropositive persons. Major histocompatibility complex-restricted HSV-specific CD8+ pCTL were found in 10 consecutively tested HSV type 1- and 2-seropositive subjects at frequencies ranging from 1 in 21,000 to 1 in 300 (median, 1 in 6,000) versus a pCTL frequency of 1 in 100,000 in HSV-seronegative donors. These results suggest that CD8+ CTL are important effector cells in resolving HSV lesions.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
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D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I