Involvement of CD8+ T-cells in exacerbation of corneal scarring in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the specific immune responses involved in the exacerbation of corneal scarring induced by HSV-1 in gK vaccinated mice.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were vaccinated with HSV-1 glycoprotein K (gK) and ocularly challenged with HSV-1. Infiltration into the cornea of T cells and macrophages was monitored by immunocytochemistry, and the effect of depletion of CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, or macrophages on corneal scarring was determined.


RESULTS
Following ocular challenge, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and macrophages were more abundant in the corneas of gK-vaccinated mice than in the corneas of mock vaccinated mice. Depletion of CD8+ T-cells, but not of CD4+ T-cells or macrophages, reduced the severity of corneal scarring in gK-vaccinated mice.


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown that gK vaccination causes an overall increase in T cells and macrophages in the cornea after ocular HSV-1 challenge. The immunopathology induced by gK vaccination appears to be related to CD8+ T-cell activity, as depletion of these cells, but not other immune cells, reduced corneal scarring.
Osorio
Yanira
Y
Center for Neurobiology and Vaccine Development, Ophthalmology Research, Department of Surgery, CSMC Burns & Allen Research Institute, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Cai
Steve
S
Hofman
Florence M
FM
Brown
Donald J
DJ
Ghiasi
Homayon
H
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004002:Clodronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005123:Eye / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D022301:Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014611:Vaccination; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D022301:Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccines; C072448:UL53 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004002:Clodronic Acid