PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF INTERFERON-GAMMA IN INTRAOCULAR HERPES-SIMPLEX TYPE-1 INFECTION DO NOT DEPEND ON MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-I OR CLASS-II EXPRESSION

Intraocular infection with herpes simplex virus type I strain F (HSV-1 ) induces bilateral retinitis, the expression of both MHC class I and II molecules and activation of CD4 and CD8 cells. To investigate the r ole of MHC upregulation in IFN-gamma mediated antiviral effects in int raocular infection with HSV-1, we infected MHC deficient mice and mice with an additional ectopic site of IFN-gamma production in their reti na (rho gamma) intravitreally with HSV-1 into one eye. Protective effe cts of IFN-gamma in intraocular HSV-1 infection were notable as sparin g of the contralateral non-inoculated eye from retinitis, and were not dependent on MHC class I and class II expression, thus limiting the i mportance of MHC expression for the outcome of viral infection in vivo .