CHARACTERIZATION OF T-CELL RESPONSES TO HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 (HSV-1) AND HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-2 (HSV-2) USING A TNF-BETA ELISPOT CYTOKINE ASSAY

We examined the suitability of a TNF-beta cytokine ELISpot assay for a ssessing various aspects of the T cell response to herpes simplex viru ses. The number of T cells responding to HSV-1 or HSV-2 was measured b y TNF-beta ELISpot assay. The number of T cells producing TNF-beta in response to HSV-1 was hi,oh, ranging from 76 to 222 per 10(5). HSV-l-s pecific TNF-beta-secreting responder cell frequencies fluctuated over time in individual donors. Comparable fluctuations were not observed i n the T cell frequencies to phytohemaglutinin (PHA). Responder cell fr equencies to glycoproteins gB and go of HSV-2 accounted for a large nu mber of the HSV-2-specific T cells as measured using the TNF-beta ELIS pot assay. Type-specific and type-common components of the T cell resp onse to HSV-1 and HSV-2 could be estimated with this assay. Type-commo n responder cells typically accounted for 25-30%. Finally, CD4(+) and CD8(+) TNF-beta-producing T cells were stimulated by HSV-1 at a CD4:CD 8 ratio of 2:1, indicating that both major subsets of T lymphocytes ar e activated by HSV.