EX-VIVO MODEL OF LEUKOCYTE MIGRATION INTO HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTED MOUSE CORNEAS

We are investigating neutrophilic infiltration into herpes simplex vir us type 1 (HSV-1)-infected mouse corneas, Using a novel ex vivo cornea l migration assay, we demonstrated two waves of neutrophil chemotaxis in HSV-1-infected corneas, An early chemotactic gradient developed wit hin 48 h in concert with the appearance of HSV-1 epithelial lesions, p eaked by 4 days post-infection (p,i,), and degraded by 6-8 days p,i,, A second chemotactic gradient appeared 10 days after infection,just be fore the initiation of chronic inflammation, The gradient was maintain ed in corneas that developed inflammation but rapidly degraded in corn eas that failed to develop inflammation, The early chemotactic gradien t was established in the absence of T lymphocytes, but the second chem otactic gradient was virtually abrogated by T cell depletion, We concl ude that HSV-1 infection induces two temporally separated neutrophil c hemotactic gradients in the mouse cornea: an early, transient, T cell- independent gradient; and a later, chronic, T cell-dependent gradient.