Ocular herpes simplex virus infection is diminished by depletion of B lymphocytes

Rabbit anti-mouse mu-chain serum was used to deplete specifically IgM-bearing B cells and B cell function in BALB/c mice. B cell-depleted and normal littermates were infected via the cornea with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at 4 to 5 wk of age. B cell-depleted mice had a reduced number of lymphocytes bearing surface immunoglobulin and a greatly reduced ability to produce antibody. Mortality was reduced from 89% in normal controls to 42% in B cell-depleted mice (p less than 0.001) and peak virus shedding from eyes was also reduced as much as 90% in the B cell-depleted mice (p less than or equal to 0.0005). These results support the hypothesis that a B cell function of normal mice somehow contributes directly or indirectly to the enhanced mortality of mice infected with HSV.