Characterization of T cell responses to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) using a TNF-beta ELISpot cytokine assay.
We examined the suitability of a TNF-beta cytokine ELISpot assay for assessing various aspects of the T cell response to herpes simplex viruses. The number of T cells responding to HSV-1 or HSV-2 was measured by TNF-beta ELISpot assay. The number of T cells producing TNF-beta in response to HSV-1 was high, ranging from 76 to 222 per 10(5). HSV-1-specific TNF-beta-secreting responder cell frequencies fluctuated over time in individual donors. Comparable fluctuations were not observed in the T cell frequencies to phytohemaglutinin (PHA). Responder cell frequencies to glycoproteins gB and gD of HSV-2 accounted for a large number of the HSV-2-specific T cells as measured using the TNF-beta ELISpot assay. Type-specific and type-common components of the T cell response to HSV-1 and HSV-2 could be estimated with this assay. Type-common responder cells typically accounted for 25-30%. Finally, CD4+ and CD8+ TNF-beta-producing T cells were stimulated by HSV-1 at a CD4:CD8 ratio of 2:1, indicating that both major subsets of T lymphocytes are activated by HSV.
Viral Exanthems and Herpesvirus Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Georiga, USA.
D S
DS
Schmid
M L
ML
Thieme
H E
HE
Gary
W C
WC
Reeves
D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha