[Effects of T cell subsets on mouse herpetic keratitis]

Immune splenocytes were obtained from C3H/He mice, which had been inoculated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 by the corneal route 6 or 12 days previously, and restimulated by lipopolysaccharide-induced lymphoblasts infected with HSV. These cells were either not treated or treated with anti-L3T4 antibody plus complement/anti-Lyt-2 antibody plus complement, and were transferred to subconjunctiva of mice with HSV corneal infection. Adoptive transfer of non-treated cells diminished corneal ulcers, when the splenocytes were transferred from mice inoculated 12 days previously. This effect was reduced by depletion of Lyt-2 bearing cells, but not reduced by depletion of L3T4 bearing cells. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from mice inoculated 6 days previously did not diminish corneal++ ulcers. These findings demonstrate that HSV specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play an important role in the late phase of recovery from HSV corneal infection.