ROLES OF DIFFERENT T-CELL SUBSETS IN CONTROL OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTION DETERMINED BY USING T-CELL-DEFICIENT MOUSE MODELS

Herpes simplex virus infection of the scarified dermis results in infection of the nervous system and, subsequently, a cutaneous lesion in the innervated dermatome. We compared the pathogenesis of such zosteriform lesions in mice lacking or severely depleted of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells because of targeted gene disruption, Mice without CD4(+) cells showed markedly increased susceptibility, whereas beta 2 microglobulin knockout mice lacking CD8(+) T cells were as resistant to challenge as were immunocompetent mice with the same genetic background. Our results demonstrate that CD4(+) T cells are of primary importance in the control of herpes simplex virus infections of the skin and nervous system.