HIGH-FREQUENCY OF CD8(-LYMPHOCYTE PRECURSORS SPECIFIC FOR HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUSES IN PERSONS WITH GENITAL HERPES() CYTOTOXIC T)

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CT L) have rarely been detected in humans, presumably because of virus-in duced mechanisms that downregulate major histocompatibility complex cl ass I expression. We have developed a method that has allowed us to co nsistently demonstrate HSV-specific CD8(+) precursor CTL (pCTL) from H SV type 1- and 2-seropositive persons. Major histocompatibility comple x-restricted HSV-specific CD8(+) pCTL were found in 10 consecutively t ested HSV type 1- and 2-seropositive subjects at frequencies ranging f rom 1 in 21,000 to 1 in 300 (median, 1 in 6,000) versus a pCTL frequen cy of 1 in 100,000 in HSV-seronegative donors. These results suggest t hat CD8(+) CTL are important effector cells in resolving HSV lesions.