Experimental infection of inbred mice with herpes simplex virus. IV. Comparison of interferon production and natural killer cell activity in susceptible and resistant adult mice.

Inbred mouse strains differ in susceptibility to infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2). In this study interferon production was tested in the peritoneal exudate of mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of HSV-1 or HSV-2. In HSV-resistant mice (C57 BL/6, C3 H/HeJ) high titers of interferon were already present 2 to 4 hours after injection. In comparison, less resistant mice (DBA/2, AKR) lacked this early response. There was no correlation between interferon titers and resistance at post-infection times later than twelve hours. At twelve hours, however, high titers of HSV were detected in the peritoneum of DBA/2 mice and significantly lower titers in C57 BL/6 mice. In a comparative analysis of eight different inbred mouse strains, again early (2 to 4 hours) interferon production was correlated to resistance. In assays of HSV-stimulated early (24 hours) NK cell responses not only the good interferon producer strains but also one of the less resistant low interferon producers (BALB/c) showed significant cytotoxic activities. Conversely, SJL mice that are very low in HSV-induced NK cell activity are resistant and show high early interferon responses at the local site.