T cell receptor V beta gene expression in experimental herpes stromal keratitis

Our study examined T cell receptor (TCR) V beta mRNA expression in a murine model of experimental herpes simplex keratitis (HSK). We employed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect TCR V beta mRNA expression in the inoculated eyes of both HSK-susceptible and HSK-resistant mice at different time points after corneal inoculation with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), followed by Southern blotting and densitometry analysis. In eyes from HSK-susceptible C.AL-20 mice, a more diverse TCR V beta transcript usage pattern was detected as compared with that seen in HSK-resistant C.B-17 mice. V beta 8 family members were expressed in both strains of mice at days 11, 14 and 21 post-inoculation. By densitometry, at day 11, the intensity of expression of V beta 8.2 and V beta 8.3 message was significantly greater in the eyes of C.AL-20 mice; V beta 8.1 was expressed only in C.B-17 mice. There were obvious differences in the TCR V beta expression between HSK-susceptible and HSK-resistant mice. The differences in the intensity of the message expressed by V beta 8 family members between the two strains could be correlated to previous experiments that showed V beta 8.1,2+ T cells as the main infiltrating cells in the corneas of HSK-susceptible mice by day 11 and 14 after challenge with HSV-1.