EFFECTS OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS OR HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 INFECTION IN-VITRO ON RESPONSE OF HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLSTO PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ

Examination was made of the in vitro response of human peripheral bloo d mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) following tre atment with varicella tester virus (VZV) or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1). Cell proliferation was determined by colorimetric assay usi ng 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. The response to PHA was depressed in ail cases by virus infection of PBMN Cs prior to PHA treatment. When the infection with the viruses was aft er PHA treatment, PHA response differed. For VZV infection, the respon se increased in four out of six samples, but was reduced in the other two. The response to PHA was depressed in all six samples by HSV 1 inf ection.