Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to varicella-zoster virus antigens

Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to various varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigens was studied using a membrane filter method. Chemotactic activity of PMNs was detected in the presence of sonicated VZV antigen and soluble VZV skin test antigen. This activity was reduced when sonicated VZV antigen was treated with human seropositive serum or murine monoclonal antibodies which reacted with glycoprotein (GP) I or GP II of VZV. However, chemotaxis of PMNs was not reduced when sonicated VZV antigen was treated with human seronegative serum or a murine monoclonal antibody which reacted with GP IV. These results suggest that GP I and GP II act as chemoattractants to PMNs, and this mechanism might contribute to the resolution of the skin lesions of varicella and herpes zoster.