Induction of Fc and C3b receptors on rabbit corneal cells by herpes simplex virus

The expression of receptors for Fc portion (FcR) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and for a C3b component of complement (C3bR) by herpes simplex virus (HSV) was studied in primary cultures of rabbit corneal cells. Monolayer cultures of epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells of the rabbit cornea were infected with three strains each of type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 HSV (HSV-2). Rosette methods were used to detect receptors by means of sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit IgG for FcR and C3b-coated sheep erythrocytes for C3bR. The FcR were expressed regularly on epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells by all three strains of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. The C3bR, however, were expressed only by HSV-1 on epithelial and stromal cells. Little or no C3bR activities could be detected on endothelial cells infected with any strain of HSV-1 or HSV-2. The FcR and C3bR expressed on corneal cells were induced by HSV and were blocked by monoclonal antibody to HSV-1 glycoprotein E(gE) or glycoprotein C(gC) respectively, confirming findings of other investigators that gE acts as FcR and gC as C3bR.