Active Immunosurveillance by CD8 + T Lymphocytes during Acute and Latent Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Infection
Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infection results in the establishment of a latent infection in sensory ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In humans the virus can sporadically reactivate and gain access to the primary sites of infection and cause considerable tissue damage. The mechanisms involved in establishment and maintenance of latency and the sporadic reactivation of HSV-1 infected neurons in sensory ganglia is poorly defined. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in maintenance of latency of HSV-1 would be extremely valuable in controlling the high prevalence of disease in communities around the world. We have shown that CD8+ T lymphocytes can block HSV-1 reactivation from latency in sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion ex vivo. The mechanism that the CD8+ T cells employ to prevent reactivation includes release of the antiviral cytokine IFNã, but other mechanisms, such as the lytic effect of perforin and granzymes appear to be important as well. In order to further understand the cellular immune response against the latent HSV infection we have attempted to dissect the CD8+ T cell immune response in the TG during acute and latent infection. Specifically, we determined the antigen specificity and TCR expression of the CD8+ T cells that accumulate in the TG at various times post infection. We have investigated the state of CD8+ T cell memory after HSV-1 infection and clarified the mechanisms used by CD8+ T cells to prevent reactivation from latency.
Author: Kamal M. Khanna
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2140756031