Latent Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Is Associated with Ongoing CD8 super(+) T-Cell Stimulation by Parenchymal Cells within Sensory Ganglia

• Published in: Journal of virology Vol. 79; no. 23; pp. 14843 - 14851
• Main Authors: van Lint, Allison L, Kleinert, Lauren, Clarke, Sally RM, Stock, Angus, Heath, William R, Carbone, Francis R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2005
• Subjects: Herpes simplex virus
• ISSN: 0022-538X; 1098-5514

CD8 super(+) T-cell persistence can be seen in ganglia harboring latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. While there is some evidence that these cells suppress virus reactivation, this view remains controversial. Given that maintenance of latency by CD8 super(+) T cells would necessitate ongoing exposure to antigen within this site, we sought evidence for such chronic stimulation. Initial experiments showed infiltration by activated but not naive CD8 super(+) T cells into ganglia harboring latent HSV infection. While such infiltration was independent of T-cell specificity, once recruited, only virus-specific T cells expressed high levels of preformed granzyme B, a marker of ongoing activation. Moreover, bone marrow replacement chimeras showed that these elevated granzyme levels were totally dependent on presentation by parenchymal cells within the ganglia. Overall, this study argues that activated CD8 super(+) T cells are nonspecifically recruited into latently infected ganglia, and in this site they are exposed to ongoing antigen stimulation, most likely by infected neuronal cells.