Recognition of herpes simplex virus type 2 tegument proteins by CD4 T cells infiltrating human genital herpes lesions

DM Koelle, JM Frank, ML Johnson, WW Kwok - Journal of virology, 1998 - Am Soc Microbiol
DM Koelle, JM Frank, ML Johnson, WW Kwok
Journal of virology, 1998Am Soc Microbiol
The local cellular immune response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is important in the control
of recurrent HSV infection. The antiviral functions of infiltrating CD4-bearing T cells may
include cytotoxicity, inhibition of viral growth, lymphokine secretion, and support of humoral
and CD8 responses. The antigens recognized by many HSV-specific CD4 T cells localizing
to genital HSV-2 lesions are unknown. T cells recognizing antigens encoded within map
units 0.67 to 0.73 of HSV DNA are frequently recovered from herpetic lesions. Expression …
Abstract
The local cellular immune response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is important in the control of recurrent HSV infection. The antiviral functions of infiltrating CD4-bearing T cells may include cytotoxicity, inhibition of viral growth, lymphokine secretion, and support of humoral and CD8 responses. The antigens recognized by many HSV-specific CD4 T cells localizing to genital HSV-2 lesions are unknown. T cells recognizing antigens encoded within map units 0.67 to 0.73 of HSV DNA are frequently recovered from herpetic lesions. Expression cloning with this region of DNA now shows that tegument protein VP22 and the viral dUTPase, encoded by genes UL49 and UL50, respectively, are T-cell antigens. Separate epitopes in VP22 were defined for T-cell clones from each of three patients. Reactivity with the tegument protein encoded by UL21 was identified for an additional patient. Three new epitopes were identified in VP16, a tegument protein associated with VP22. Some tegument-specific CD4 T-cell clones exhibited cytotoxic activity against HSV-infected cells. These results suggest that herpes simplex tegument proteins are processed for antigen presentation in vivo and are possible candidate compounds for herpes simplex vaccines.
American Society for Microbiology