MEMBRANES OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1-INFECTED HUMAN CORNEAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS ARE NOT PERMEABILIZED TO MACROMOLECULES AND THEREFORE DO NOT RELEASE IL-1-ALPHA

Nanogram amounts of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 alpha ( IL-1 alpha) were detected in uninfected cultures of human corneal epit helial cells (HCEC). Although HSV-1 replicated >10(4)-fold in these ce lls and caused extensive cytopathic effects, virus infection was not a ccompanied by significant extracellular release of IL-1 alpha. Additio nal studies showed that release of radiolabeled cytosolic proteins fro m virus-infected HCEC was no greater than that released by mock-infect ed cells. These findings indicate that HSV-1 infection of HCEC does no t result in IL-1 alpha release because newly formed virus progeny can escape infected cells without disrupting cell membranes, (C) 1998 Acad emic Press.