STRESSOR-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN IMMUNE-RESPONSE AND VIRAL CLEARANCE FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-TYPE 1 IN BALB C AND C57B1/6 MICE/

Extending earlier studies of stress-induced modulation of herpes simpl ex virus (HSV) infection and immunity, we investigated the effects of electric foot shock (0.3 mA) on cytokine production and immune effecto r function in response to a nonlethal inoculum of HSV-1 in two strains of inbred mice, C57B1/6 and BALB/c. Increased levels of infectious vi rus at the site of infection were observed in foot-shocked mice of bot h strains compared to control mice. The specific pattern of changes in interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma, as well as IL-4 and IL-10, i nduced by foot-shock stress differed between the two strains. IgM anti -HSV antibody responses were, however, increased in both strains. (C) 1997 Academic Press.