The proliferative T cell response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen is restricted by self HLA-D.

T cells from sensitized individuals react with a proliferative response to herpes simplex virus antigen (HSV-Ag) in vitro, when antigen is presented together with autologous macrophages (Mø). We here report that this T-Mø co-operation is restricted by self HLA-D/DR molecules of the sensitized T cell donor. Furthermore, it is shown that the lack of co-operation between T cells and HLA-D/DR disparate macrophages, is due neither to suppression nor to generation of cytotoxic T cells in the allogeneic mixture.