CD4(+) T-cell responses to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G are type specific and differ in symptomatic and asymptomatic HSV-2-infected individuals.
T-cell recognition of the secreted and membrane-bound portions of the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G (sgG-2 and mgG-2, respectively) was compared in symptomatic and asymptomatic HSV-2-infected individuals and in HSV-2-seronegative controls and the responses with HSV-1 glycoproteins C and E (gC-1 and gE-1) were compared. CD4(+) T cells from HSV-2-infected individuals specifically recognized both sgG-2 and mgG-2, whereas HSV-1-infected and HSV-seronegative controls did not respond to these glycoproteins. The responses to gC-1 and gE-1, on the other hand, were not type specific, as blood mononuclear cells from both HSV-1- and HSV-2-infected individuals responded in vitro. There was an association between the status of the infection (symptomatic versus asymptomatic) and the CD4(+) T-cell responsiveness. Symptomatic HSV-2-seropositive individuals responded with significantly lower Th1 cytokine production to sgG-2 and mgG-2 than did asymptomatic HSV-2-infected carriers, especially within the HSV-1-negative cohort. No differences in T-cell proliferation were observed between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The results have implications for studies of HSV-2-specific CD4(+) T-cell reactivity in general and for analysis of immunological differences between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals in particular.
Department of Rheumatology & Inflammation Research, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Kristina
K
Eriksson
Department of Rheumatology & Inflammation Research, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Lars
L
Bellner
Department of Virology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Staffan
S
Görander
Department of Dermatovenereology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Gun-Britt
GB
Löwhagen
Department of Dermatovenereology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.|Department of Virology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Petra
P
Tunbäck
Department of Dermatology, Uddevalla Hospital, Uddevalla, Sweden.
Kristina
K
Rydberg
Department of Virology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
Jan-Åke
JÅ
Liljeqvist
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C045464:glycoprotein G, herpes simplex virus type 2; C038535:glycoprotein gC, herpes simplex virus type 1