Inability of various immune mechanisms to establish in vitro latent infection in sensory neurons infected by HSV-1. Brief report.

Various immune mechanisms were tested for their ability to alter a normally productive infection of herpes simplex virus in cultures of dissociated rat sensory neurons. These mechanisms included anti-HSV antibody with and without the aid of complement, HSV-sensitized "T" cells, natural killer cells, and "K" cells plus anti-HSV antibody (ADCC reactions). Although both anti-HSV antibody plus complement and the ADCC mechanism significantly limited infectious HSV production, no mechanism was capable of preventing the eventual infection of the majority of neurons. It appears, therefore, that none of these mechanisms by themselves can convert a normally productive infection of sensory neurons in culture to a non-productive or latent infection.