Studies on human epidermal Langerhans' cells: II. Activation of human T lymphocytes to herpes simplex virus.

Epidermis from patients suffering from recurrent herpes labialis was separated from dermis by means of a suction blister device and dissociated with trypsin. The epidermal cell suspensions obtained were 80--95% viable and contained 3--5% Langerhans' cells, as judged by immunofluorescence staining of the cells with a rabbit anti-DR antiserum. T lymphocytes from the same patients were co-cultured with herpes simplex virus antigen (HSV-Ag) or live virus (HSV), with or without epidermal cells or macrophages. A strong proliferative T cell response to HSV-Ag and HSV was obtained, provided that the cultures also contained epidermal cells or macrophages. Pretreatment of the epidermal cells with a rabbit anti-DR antiserum plus complement abolished the responses, while pretreatment with normal rabbit serum plus complement did not. These data therefore indicate that HLA--DR positive Langerhans' cells are able to present herpes simplex virus in an immunogenic way to T lymphocytes.