Induction of cell-mediated immunity in herpes simplex virus keratitis. Kinetics of lymphocyte transformation and the effect of antiviral antibody.

The in vitro lymphoproliferative responses to herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens were followed in rabbits with herpesvirus infection of the cornea. The proliferative cellular responses occurred early in infection and were demonstrated by lymphoid cells from the local lymph nodes at day 5, the peripheral blood at day 11, and the spleen after day 14. The presence of autologous serum antibodies suppressed lymphoproliferative responses of the lymph node lymphocytes to HSV antigens early in infection at day 5, the time at which antibody production is first noted. Peripheral blood and spleen cells were not appreciably influenced at early time periods. However at 7 months after infection, the presence of autologous serum antibodies stimulated spleen lymphocytes from animals with recurrent disease. These results indicate that antiviral antibodies can affect the cellular immune response in herpesvirus infections by modulating the lymphoproliferative response to herpes antigens.