Herpes Simplex Virus-Specific Memory CD8 + T Cells Are Selectively Activated and Retained in Latently Infected Sensory Ganglia

• Published in: Immunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 593 - 603
• Main Authors: Khanna, Kamal M., Bonneau, Robert H., Kinchington, Paul R., Hendricks, Robert L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2003; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Epitopes - immunology; Gene expression; Herpes Simplex - immunology; Immunologic Memory - immunology; Infections; Lymphocytes; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Peptides; Simplexvirus - immunology; Trigeminal Ganglion - immunology; Trigeminal Ganglion - virology; Virus Latency - immunology
• ISSN: 1074-7613; 1097-4180
• DOI: 10.1016/S1074-7613(03)00112-2

This study challenges the concept that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency represents a silent infection that is ignored by the host immune system, and suggests antigen-directed retention of memory CD8
+ T cells. CD8
+ T cells specific for the immunodominant gB
498-505 HSV-1 epitope are selectively retained in the ophthalmic branch of the latently infected trigeminal ganglion, where they acquire and maintain an activation phenotype and the capacity to produce IFN-γ. Some CD8
+ T cells showed TCR polarization to junctions with neurons. A gB
498-505 peptide-specific CD8
+ T cell clone can block HSV-1 reactivation from latency in ex vivo trigeminal ganglion cultures. We conclude that CD8
+ T cells provide active surveillance of HSV-1 gene expression in latently infected sensory neurons.