Long-term presence of virus-specific plasma cells in sensory ganglia and spinal cord following intravaginal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 2.
The tissue sites of long-term herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-specific antibody production in mice and guinea pigs were identified. In addition to secondary lymphoid tissue and bone marrow, HSV-specific plasma cells were detected in spinal cords of mice up to 10 months after intravaginal inoculation with a thymidine kinase-deficient HSV-2 strain and in lumbosacral ganglia and spinal cords of guinea pigs inoculated with HSV-2 strain MS. The long-term retention of virus-specific plasma cells in the peripheral and central nervous systems following HSV infection may be important for resistance to reinfection of neuronal tissues or may play a role in modulation of reactivation from latency.
Milligan
Gregg N
GN
Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555-0436, USA. gnmillig@utmb.edu
Meador
Michael G
MG
Chu
Chin-Fun
CF
Young
Christal G
CG
Martin
Talitha L
TL
Bourne
Nigel
N
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral