Specifically immune mouse T-cells can destroy H-2 compatible murine target cells infected with herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2.

Lymphocytes from the spleen (SL) or peritoneal cavities (PL) of HSV-1- or HSV-2-immunized C 3 H mice expressed pronounced cytotoxicity, as measured by 51Cr release assay, against L cells experimentally infected with HSF-types 1 or 2 but not against uninfected L cells. HSV-1 or HSV-2 immune lymphocytes induced substantially more 51Cr release when L-cell targets were infected with homotypic virus compared to those infected with heterotypic virus. Inasmuch as the cytotoxicity of specifically immune C 3 H SL for HSV-infected L cells was selectively eliminated by treatment with AKR anti-theta C 3 H serum plus complement, the effector cells in present system were theta-bearing T cells. Evidence has been provided which indicates that specifically immune T cells express cytotoxicity exclusively directed against different HSV-infected target cells (mouse embryo cells or mouse peritoneal macrophages) which share H-2 antigens with the effector cells.