CORNEAL LANGERHANS CELL-DYNAMICS AFTER HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS REACTIVATION

Purpose. The authors investigated the progressive changes in the distr ibution of corneal Langerhans cells (LC) after reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice. Methods. After corneal in oculation of National Institutes of Health inbred mice with HSV-1 and the establishment of latency, viral reactivation was induced by irradi ating the ocular surface with 250 mJ/cm2 of ultraviolet B (UV-B) light . Results. Subsequent viral replication in the cornea was followed by the migration of the LC toward the paracentral and central corneal epi thelium. These areas are normally devoid of LC. The number of LC in th e paracentral and central regions of the eye reached a peak at day 14 post-UV-B irradiation. After UV-B irradiation of mice latently infecte d with HSV-1, the development of corneal stromal opacification and neo vascularization closely followed the migration of LC toward the centra l cornea and paralleled the influx of T-cells into the corneal stroma. This pattern was not observed in irradiated uninfected mice. Conclusi ons. LC migrate centrally in the corneal epithelium after viral reacti vation. There is a direct correlation between the number of LC in the cornea and the degree of persistent stromal opacification.