Herpetic stromal keratitis in the absence of viral antigen recognition.
Herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), resulting from ocular infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV), is thought to represent a T cell mediated immunopathologic lesion. Antigens recognized by the inflammatory T cells remain unresolved and non-TCR mediated activation of T cells (bystander activation) is considered as also involved. This report documents further evidence for the bystander activation mechanisms using three T cell transgenic RAG-/- mouse strains. Accordingly HSK occurred in PCC RAG-/-, P14 RAG-/-, and OT-1 RAG-/- mice. In none of the models could HSV specific T cell reactivity be demonstrated and animals were unprotected from lesion development by immunization prior to HSV ocular infection. The results support the role of bystander activation as a mechanism of T cell mediated immunopathology and show that CD8(+) as well as CD4(+) T cells can participate in HSK lesion development.
Banerjee
Kaustuv
K
Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, M409 Walter Life Science Bldg., Knoxville, TN 37996-0845, USA.
Deshpande
Shilpa
S
Zheng
Mei
M
Kumaraguru
Udayasankar
U
Schoenberger
Stephen P
SP
Rouse
Barry T
BT
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell