Human herpesvirus 7 infection of CD4+(+) T cells does not require expression of the OKT4 epitope.
To evaluate the role of the OKT4 epitope in human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) infection, we studied the susceptibility to HHV-7 infection of CD4+ T cells isolated from two individuals with OKT4 epitope deficiency. HHV-7-infected OKT4-Leu3a+ T cells exhibited the characteristic cytopathic effect, reactivity with HHV-7-seropositive serum by immunofluorescence and down-modulation of surface CD4 in a manner similar to HHV-7-infected OKT4+Leu3a+ T cells. A semiquantitative PCR revealed that the amounts of HHV-7 replicated in OKT4+Leu3a+ T cells and OKT4-Leu3a+ T cells were not significantly different. Although it has been reported that OKT4 monoclonal antibody efficiently inhibits HHV-7 infection, the present study demonstrated that the interaction of HHV-7 with CD4+ T cells does not require participation of the epitope defined by OKT4 monoclonal antibody.
Yasukawa
M
M
First Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu, Japan. yasukawa@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Hatta
N
N
Sada
E
E
Inoue
Y
Y
Murakami
T
T
Onji
M
M
Fujita
S
S
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; C079851:OKT4A monoclonal antibody