PSYCHOSOCIAL INFLUENCES ON IMMUNE-RESPONSES TO HSV-1 INFECTION IN BALB C MICE/

The effects of differential housing (one or four mice/cage) on T-helpe r (Th) cell markers of cellular and humoral immune responses were exam ined. Differentially housed male BALB/cJ mice were infected with herpe s simplex virus (HSV)-1 (Patron strain), and in vitro cytokine product ion [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-gamma] by s plenocytes and popliteal lymph node cells and serum antibody titers (I gM and IgG) were evaluated. Differential housing of male BALB/c mice i nfluenced the magnitude, but not the kinetics, of some, but not all, i mmune responses to HSV-1. Splenocytes from individually housed mice pr oduced more IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 than splenocytes from gro up-housed mice; in popliteal lymph node cells, only IFN-gamma and IL-1 0 production was influenced by housing. Although the social environmen t influenced cytokine production, there were no concomitant changes in circulating IgM or IgG antibody titers. These results do not support the hypothesis that dominant Th cell responses are the primary targets of this psychosocial manipulation, or that a reciprocal relationship exists between Th1 and Th2 cell-derived cytokines. (C) 1997 Academic P ress.