Neutrophil chemotaxis induced by corneal epithelial cells after herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

Neutrophil invasion is a primary event in the development of herpetic keratitis. It has been reported that HSV-1 infection of keratocytes induces the synthesis of IL-8, a potent neutrophil chemoattractant, while corneal epithelium does not. Nevertheless, little is known about the correlation between neutrophil migration and the production of chemotactic factors by HSV-1-infected corneal cells, especially in epithelial cells which form an initial barrier of the ocular surface. We examined whether human corneal epithelial cells as well as keratocytes could induce neutrophil chemotaxis in response to HSV-1 infection.

Human corneal epithelial cells immortalized with SV40 (HCE) and human keratocytes were infected with HSV-1. The culture fluids collected at 4, 12, 24 h after infection were assayed for human neutrophil chemotaxis using a modified Boyden chamber method. IL-8 levels in these supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The chemotactic activity induced by HCE and keratocytes after MP strain of HSV-1 infection peaked as early as 4 h postinfection, then declined. Chemotactic activity induced by HSV-1-infected HCE and IL-8 levels on these supernatants paralleled with the infectious virus titer. It was inhibited by monoclonal anti-IL-8 antibody. UV-inactivation of MP strain abrogated neither the induction of chemotactic activity nor IL-8 secretion of infected HCE.

At the early phase of HSV-1 infection, corneal epithelial cells play an important role in inducing neutrophil chemotaxis, which was mediated by IL-8.