Herpes simplex virus type 1 induces apoptosis in peripheral blood T lymphocytes.
Apoptosis in peripheral blood T lymphocytes induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was investigated by use of DNA content analysis and the terminal deoxytransferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method. The hypodiploid fraction in the cell cycle and DNA fragmentation were both increased in HSV-1-infected T lymphocytes compared with that in mock-infected T lymphocytes on stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). There was no difference in the hypodiploid fraction and DNA fragmentation between HSV-1-infected T lymphocytes and mock-infected cells cultured without PHA. HSV-1 enhanced apoptosis in CD4 and HLA-DR-positive T lymphocytes, but not in CD8 lymphocytes, when stimulated with PHA. These results demonstrate that HSV-1 infection enhances apoptosis in activated T lymphocytes, particularly CD4 and HLA-DR-positive T lymphocytes. bcl-2 expression was unchanged in mock- and HSV-1-infected CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes cultured with or without PHA, indicating that bcl-2 does not contribute to HSV-1-induced apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis in CD4 helper T lymphocytes may account for immunosuppression and lymphocytopenia following HSV-1 infection.
Ito
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
Watanabe
M
M
Kamiya
H
H
Sakurai
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D004247:DNA