HveC (nectin-1) is expressed at high levels in sensory neurons, but not inmotor neurons, of the rat peripheral nervous system

The entry of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 into cells is a complex process m ediated in part by the binding of the HSV glycoprotein D (gD) to a specific cellular receptor identified as HveC, or nectin-1. We examined the distrib ution of HveC in sensory and motor neurons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) by immunocytochemistry. HveC is expressed at high levels in sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglion and their peripheral axons, at lower levels in motor neurons of spinal cord, and without detectable expression in moto r nerve terminals at the neuromuscular junction. These results have implica tions regarding the tropism of HSV to specific neuronal populations, and fo r the construction of HSV-based vectors for the peripheral nervous system.