Characterization of diverse primary herpes simplex virus type 1 gB-specific cytotoxic T-cell response showing a preferential V beta bias.

ABSTRACT Many virus infections give rise to surprisingly limited T-cell responses directed to very few immunodominant determinants. We have been examining the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. Previous studies have identified the glycoprotein B-derived peptide from residues 498 to 505 (gB498–505) as one of at least three determinants recognized by HSV-1-specific CTLs isolated from C57BL/6 mice. We had previously found that in vitro-derived CTLs directed to gB498–505 show a characteristic pattern of T-cell receptor (TCR) usage, with 60% of gB498–505-specific CD8+ T cells expressing BV10+ TCR β chains and a further 20% expressing BV8S1. In this report, we confirm that this TCR V-region bias is also reflected in the ex vivo response to HSV-1 infection. A high proportion of activated CD8+draining lymph node cells were found to express these dominant V regions, suggesting that a substantial number of in vivo responding T cells were directed to this one viral determinant. The use of an HSV-1 deletion mutant lacking the gB498–505 determinant in combination with accurate intracellular gamma interferon staining allowed us to quantify the extent of gB-specific T-cell dominance. Together, these results suggested that between 70 and 90% of all CD8+ HSV-1-specific T cells target gB498–505. While deletion of this determinant resulted in an attenuated CD8+ T-cell response, it also permitted the emergence of one or more previously unidentified cryptic specificities. Overall, HSV-1 infection of C57BL/6 mice results in an extremely focused pattern of CD8+ T-cell selection in terms of target specificity and TCR expression.

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CD4+ T Cells Are Required for the Priming of CD8+ T Cells following Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01997-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (10) ◽

pp. 5256-5268 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Naveen K. Rajasagi ◽

Sadik H. Kassim ◽

Christina M. Kollias ◽

Xiangyi Zhao ◽

Robert Chervenak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

T Cell ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus Type ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Simplex Virus ◽

T Cell Help ◽

Hsv 1

ABSTRACT The role of CD4+ helper T cells in modulating the acquired immune response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) remains ill defined; in particular, it is unclear whether CD4+ T cells are needed for the generation of the protective HSV-1-specific CD8+-T-cell response. This study examined the contribution of CD4+ T cells in the generation of the primary CD8+-T-cell responses following acute infection with HSV-1. The results demonstrate that the CD8+-T-cell response generated in the draining lymph nodes of CD4+-T-cell-depleted C57BL/6 mice and B6-MHC-II−/− mice is quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from the CD8+ T cells generated in normal C57BL/6 mice. Phenotypic analyses show that virus-specific CD8+ T cells express comparable levels of the activation marker CD44 in mice lacking CD4+ T cells and normal mice. In contrast, CD8+ T cells generated in the absence of CD4+ T cells express the interleukin 2 receptor α-chain (CD25) at lower levels. Importantly, the CD8+ T cells in the CD4+-T-cell-deficient environment are functionally active with respect to the expression of cytolytic activity in vivo but exhibit a diminished capacity to produce gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Furthermore, the primary expansion of HSV-1-specific CD8+ T cells is diminished in the absence of CD4+-T-cell help. These results suggest that CD4+-T-cell help is essential for the generation of fully functional CD8+ T cells during the primary response to HSV-1 infection.

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Diversity of the CD8+ T-Cell Response to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Proteins among Persons with Genital Herpes

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02659-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 5509-5515 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Nancy Hosken ◽

Patrick McGowan ◽

Amalia Meier ◽

David M. Koelle ◽

Paul Sleath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

T Cell ◽

Virus Type ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus Type ◽

Cell Response ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Simplex Virus

ABSTRACT Cytolytic T cells play a major role in controlling herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections in humans. In an effort to more thoroughly evaluate the response to HSV-2 directly, ex vivo, we developed an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay that utilized pools of overlapping synthetic peptides presented by autologous dendritic cells to purified CD8+ T cells. Donor response rates to individual open reading frames (ORFs) ranged from fewer than 5% responding to as many as 70% responding, with the greatest frequency of responses (by ORF) being directed against UL39, UL25, UL27, ICP0, UL46, and UL47 in descending order of frequency. HSV-2-seropositive subjects responded to as few as 3 or as many as 46 of the 48 ORFs tested, with a median of 11 ORFs recognized. HLA-B*07 expression correlated with stronger responses overall that were directed primarily against UL49 and UL46. Cumulative precursor frequencies in the blood ranged from 500 to almost 6,000 HSV-2 spot-forming units/106 CD8+ T cells. The magnitude and breadth of the response in the infected population were greater than previously appreciated. Whether this variability in the CD8+ T-cell response within individuals is associated with the frequency of viral reactivation warrants further study.

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