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The chemokine CXCL10 is crucial for the control of viral replication through the regulation of mobilization of antigen-specific T cells to sites of infection. CXCL10 is highly expressed both at sites of inflammation as well as constitutively within lymphoid organs by both bone marrow (BM)-derived and non-BM-derived cells. However, the relative immunologic importance of CXCL10 expressed by these divergent sources relative to HSV-1 infection is unknown. Using mouse chimeras reconstituted with either wild type or CXCL10 deficient mouse BM, we show BM-derived, radiation-sensitive cells from wild type mice were solely responsible for resistance to HSV-1 in the trigeminal ganglia and brain stem. The resistance was not reflected by a deficiency in the recruitment of effector cells to sites of inflammation or expression of chemokines or IFN-gamma and likely results from additional, yet-to-be-determined factors emanating from wild type, BM-derived cells.

HSV-1 is a significant human pathogen that can result in the loss of sight as a result of episodic reactivation of latent virus from sensory ganglion neurons. In this study the potential efficacy of anti-viral cytokine expression in preventing latent virus reactivation was investigated. Both type I (IFN-beta) and type II (IFN-gamma) IFN transgene expression following transduction of trigeminal ganglion explant cultures significantly reduced the incident of HSV-1 reactivation that in the case of IFN-beta was dependent on the presence of double stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase and RNase L. In vivo, expression of the IFN-gamma but not IFN-beta transgene significantly delayed and reduced the frequency of reactivation of latent mice exposed to UV light without discernable inflammation. This result is the first report that demonstrates the ability to block reactivation using an ectopic cytokine expression system and warrants further exploration as a means to prevent HSV-1 reactivation.

The antioxidant lipoic acid (LA) treats and prevents the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In an effort to understand the therapeutic potential of LA in MS, we sought to define the cellular mechanisms that mediate the effects of LA on human natural killer (NK) cells, which are important in innate immunity as the first line of defense against invading pathogens and tumor cells. We discovered that LA stimulates cAMP production in NK cells in a dose-dependent manner. Studies using pharmacological inhibitors and receptor transfection experiments indicate that LA stimulates cAMP production via activation of the EP2 and EP4 prostanoid receptors and adenylyl cyclase. In addition, LA suppressed interleukin (IL)-12/IL-18 induced IFNgamma secretion and cytotoxicity in NK cells. These novel findings suggest that LA may inhibit NK cell function via the cAMP signaling pathway.

The cornea is one of the most highly innervated tissues in the mammalian host. We hypothesized changes to cornea innervation through chemical sympathectomy would significantly alter the host response to the neurotropic viral pathogen, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) following ocular infection. Mice treated with 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide displayed reduced tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers residing in the cornea. Sympathectomized mice were also found to show a transient rise in virus recovered in infected tissues and succumbed to infection in greater numbers. Whereas there were no differences in infiltrating leukocyte populations including HSV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the infected tissue, an increase in substance P and a decrease in IFN-gamma levels in the trigeminal ganglion but not brain stem of sympathectomized mice were noted. Sympathectomized mice treated with the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist L703,606 had delayed mortality implicating the involvement of substance P in HSV-1-mediated death.

The induction of an antiviral state by type I interferons (IFN) was evaluated in primary trigeminal ganglion cell cultures using herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Cells treated with mouse IFN-beta consistently showed the greatest resistance to HSV-1 infection in comparison to cells treated with IFN-alpha1, IFN-alpha4, IFN-alpha5, IFN-alpha6, or IFN-alpha9. The antiviral efficacy was dose-dependent and correlated with the induction of the IFN-inducible, antiviral genes, 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase. In trigeminal ganglion cells deficient in the downstream effector molecule of the OAS pathway, RNase L, the antiviral state induced by IFN-beta was lost.

CXCR3 deficient (CXCR3(-/-)) mice are resistant to ocular HSV-1 infection in that less mice develop encephalitis and succumb to infection in comparison to wild type (WT) animals. A region of the brain previously identified to be crucial for development of encephalitis was evaluated in HSV-1-infected CXCR3(-/-) and WT mice. In this region, known as the ependyma, viral titer, infiltrating leukocyte populations, and key anti-viral cytokine message levels were evaluated. We found that CXCR3(-/-) mice possessed significantly less HSV-1 and expressed significantly more IFN-β mRNA in the brain ependyma compared to WT animals during the development of encephalitis.

In the present study, we employed a plasmid DNA encoding murine interferon (IFN)-beta to assess its antiviral efficacy in an in vitro transfection-infection assay and in an ocular HSV-1 infection model of mice. In the in vitro assay, transfection of mouse fibroblasts with the IFN-beta transgene resulted in a 17-fold or greater reduction in the viral load of HSV-1 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 compared to that of those mice treated with the plasmid control. RT-PCR analysis of representative immediate early (ICP27), early (thymidine kinase, TK) and late (VP16) viral genes found no changes in the level of expression comparing the IFN-beta transgene- to the vector-treated control group, suggesting that the IFN-beta transgene may act at the post-transcriptional level of viral replication. In the ocular HSV-1 infection model, topical application of the plasmid DNA encoding murine IFN-beta onto mouse cornea enhanced cumulative survival and significantly reduced the viral load of HSV-1 in the eyes and trigeminal ganglia of mice at both day 3 and 6 post-infection compared with mice treated with the plasmid vector control or normal saline. Neutralizing antibody to IFN-beta blocked the protective effect elicited by the IFN-beta transgene. Unlike the in vitro experiment, viral gene expression was reduced in the trigeminal ganglion of mice pre-treated 24 h with the IFN-beta transgene day 3 (ICP27 and VP16) and day 6 (ICP27, TK, DNA polymerase, and VP16) post-infection in comparison to mice treated with the plasmid vector control as determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Androstenediol (AED) is a metabolic product of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal steroid known to possess immunomodulatory characteristics. The present study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of AED treatment in mice ocularly infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The subcutaneous administration of 320 mg/kg AED 4 h prior to viral inoculation was found to enhance the survival of HSV-1-infected mice while lower doses (32.0-100.0 mg/kg) were without effect. However, there were no apparent differences in the viral load in the eye or trigeminal ganglion (TG) 3 or 6 days post infection (p.i.) in vehicle- or AED (320 mg/kg)-treated mice. Likewise, there were no differences in the expression of cytokine or chemokine mRNAs in the eyes or TG early (i.e., 3 days p.i.) following infection. However, by 6 days p.i., there was a significant increase in the expression of the chemokines IP-10, MCP-1, and RANTES and the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the AED (320 mg/kg)-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated controls as determined by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR (for IFN-gamma). Likewise, there was a corresponding increase in IFN-gamma and IL-2 but not IL-12 protein in the TG of AED-treated mice 6 days p.i. AED-treatment also induced a rise in splenic natural killer activity in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Collectively, these results suggest that the protective effect following subcutaneous administration of AED is associated in a rise in selective type 1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) as well as natural killer activity.

The establishment of a primary trigeminal ganglion (TG) cell culture latently infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been useful in studying stress-induced reactivation of the latent virus. However, the immune profile of this culture system prior to and after stress has never been established. In the present manuscript, cytokine and chemokine production were measured in primary cultures of TG cells obtained from uninfected and HSV-1 latently infected mice. Supernates from TG cell cultures contained detectable interleukin (IL)-6 but not IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as determined by ELISA. The basal level of IL-6 in uninfected TG cell cultures was 20.5 +/- 2.3 ng/ml, whereas latently infected TG cells produced significantly less IL-6 (12.1 +/- 1.9 ng/ml). Supernates from TG cell cultures also contained detectable levels of C-10, MCP-1 and eotaxin but little to no MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, or MIP-2. While there were no differences in the basal level of MCP-1 and eotaxin in TG cell cultures from HSV-1-infected and uninfected mice, C10 levels were significantly higher in TG cultures originating from infected mice compared to uninfected ones (5.86 +/- 0.61 ng/ml compared to 1.18 +/- 0.16 ng/ml). Hyperthermic stress (43 degrees C, 180 min), which induces reactivation of latent HSV-1 from TG cell cultures, significantly reduced IL-6 and C-10 levels from both uninfected and latently infected TG cell cultures. However, there was no correlation between cytokine/chemokine levels and HSV-1 reactivation. Immunofluorescent studies showed TG cell cultures contained 10% MAC-3+ staining cells (macrophage specific) but no dendritic cells. By comparison, cells from freshly isolated TG contained 6% positive dendritic cells but1% MAC-3 + cells. Both in vivo and in vitro TG consisted of a low percentage of CD3+ and CD8+ cells. Hyperthermic stress (43 degrees C for 3 h) eliminated the lymphocyte population as determined by RT-PCR. Whereas no spontaneous reactivation has been reported in mice, spontaneous reactivation occurred in 4.5% (10/220) of TG cell cultures surveyed over a 20 day period. Collectively, the dichotomy between HSV-1 replication and reactivation comparing the in vitro and in vivo HSV-1 latency models may reside, in part, to the differences in the levels of cytokines, chemokines and immune cell populations within the microenvironment of the in vitro and in vivo TG.

The existence of sigma receptors on lymphocytes and thymocytes was characterized using [3H](+)-pentazocine. [3H](+)-Pentazocine specifically labels high affinity sigma-type binding sites on T- and B-enriched lymphocyte membranes. The binding is saturable with T lymphocyte sites having a KD value of 401 +/- 85 nM and B lymphocyte sites having a KD value of 302 +/- 46 nM. Likewise, saturable high (KD1 277 +/- 92 nM) and low (KD2 2.5 +/- 1.2 microM) affinity sites for [3H](+)-pentazocine are found on thymocytes as well. In competition studies with lymphocytes, the rank order of potency for competing ligands is (+)-pentazocine = N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (BD1008) greater than 1R,2S-(+)-cis-N-(2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexylamine (LR132) greater than or equal to (-)-pentazocine greater than or equal to phenazocine greater than (+/-)-trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl] benzeneacetamide methanesulphonate (U-50,488H) = phencyclidine greater than haloperidol = 1,3-di- (o)-tolylguanidine. In competition studies with thymocytes, the rank order of potency for competing ligands is (+)-pentazocine = BD1008 greater than or equal to phenazocine greater than haloperidol greater than 1,3-di-(o)-tolylguanidine greater than phencyclidine greater than (-)-pentazocine. These compounds were also investigated as potential regulatory molecules in mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation assays. Of the compounds tested, phencyclidine, 1,3-di-(o)-tolylguanidine, haloperidol, and (+)-pentazocine suppress concanavalin A-induced proliferation at high (10(-5) M) concentrations while (-)-pentazocine is inactive. When pokeweed mitogen or lipopolysaccharide are used, these compounds enhance or suppress lymphocyte proliferation depending on the mitogen and concentration of ligand. These results indicate a stereoselective receptor for (+)-pentazocine which is coupled to biological processes of lymphocytes.

Overnight treatment of murine leukocytes with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin enhances natural killer cell activity. Moreover, the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, as well as the delta-class opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole, can block this effect. The responsivity of murine leukocytes to CRH is both dose- and time-dependent. The effector cells are both MAC-1 and Thy-1.2 antigen-positive. Whereas β-endorphin is also shown to enhance natural killer cell activity in a naloxone-reversible manner, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has a negligible effect. Macrophage depletion prior to incubation with CRH blocks the CRH-induced natural killer cell augmentation. These results suggest hypothalamic-releasing hormones such as CRH may have a biologically relevant role in the modulation of immune cells either directly or indirectly through the induction of neuropeptide hormones known to have immunomodulatory capabilities.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 ocular infection elicits a potent inflammatory response including the production of the chemokines, CXCL9 and CXCL10, in mice. Since HSV-1 nucleic acid is recognized by pattern receptors including Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9, we tested the hypothesis that TLR9 is necessary for the early augmentation of CXCL10 following HSV-1 infection. Similar to wild type controls, TLR9 deficient mice constitutively expressed CXCL10 in the cornea. Following infection or stimulation with the deoxycytidylate-phosphate-deoxyguanylate (CpG) motif, CXCL10 levels were significantly elevated in the cornea of wild type but not TLR9 or type I interferon receptor deficient mice. The reduced CXCL10 response in the cornea of TLR deficient mice was correlative with an increase in virus shedding and a reduction in neutrophil infiltration. This is the first report that shows enhanced CXCL10 expression following neurotropic viral replication requires both intact TLR 9 and type I interferon signaling pathways.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection of the eye leads to the retrograde spread of the virus from the eye to the trigeminal ganglion resulting in the infiltration of leukocytes and production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including CXCL9 and CXCL10. The present study investigated the role of the receptor for CXCL9 and CXCL10 in the host response to HSV-1 infection using mice deficient in CXCR3 expression (CXCR3−/−). Although wild type C57BL/6 and CXCR3−/− mice cleared the virus, HSV-1 titers remained elevated in the ganglion and brain stem of CXCR3−/− mice day 7 post infection. Coinciding with the increase in virus titer, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and IFN-γ protein levels were enhanced in the trigeminal ganglion and/or brain stem of the CXCR3−/− mice associated with a 2-fold increase in the percentage of CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes in the trigeminal ganglion. However, the survival rate of CXCR3−/− mice was significantly enhanced above the wild type controls associated with an increase in brain IL-6 content. Collectively, the results indicate the absence of CXCR3 is associated with a transient increase in virus burden in the nervous system and an elevated protective immune response.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that influences the innate and adaptive immune response to microbial pathogens including viruses. It was reasoned that constitutive IL-12 production in mice would enhance resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. To test this hypothesis, transgenic mice expressing the p35 and p40 genes of IL-12 under a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter were ocularly infected with HSV-1. These mice displayed increased survival and reduced viral titers in the eye, trigeminal ganglion (TG), and brain stem in comparison to wild type controls. Consistent with these results, HSV-1 immediate early and early gene expression were reduced to 50–130-fold in the trigeminal ganglion of infected transgenic mice compared to infected, non-transgenic counterparts as determined by real time PCR. Associated with viral resistance, IL-12 and IFN-γ mRNA levels and IL-12 protein were elevated in the eyes of the transgenic versus non-transgenic mice during the acute infection. Collectively, the data show the inherent resistance of mice constitutively expressing IL-12 to ocular HSV-1 infection—an outcome that is independent of the adaptive immune system at the time of infection.

A study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of recombinant interferon (rIFN)-alphaA to plasmid DNA encoding IFN-alpha1 against ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The topical application of rIFN-alphaA (100-300 units/eye) onto the cornea of mice subsequently infected 24 h later with HSV-1 antagonized viral-induced mortality. The enhancement in cumulative survival in the rIFN-alphaA-treated mice correlated with a reduction of viral titers recovered in the eye and trigeminal ganglion (TG) at 3 and 6 days post-infection. The protective effect was site-specific such that when rIFN-alphaA was administered orally or intranasally, no efficacy against HSV-1 was observed. However, the protective effect was time-dependent. Specifically, when the rIFN-alphaA (100-1000 units/eye) was administered at 24 h post-infection, no protective effect was observed against HSV-1 compared to the vehicle-treated group. In contrast, plasmid DNA (100 microg/eye) containing the IFN-alpha1 transgene showed significant protection when topically applied 24 h post-infection. Although the transgene was found to traffic distal from the site of application (eye), including the trigeminal ganglion and the spleen where CD11b(+) and CD11c(+) cells express the transgene, the migration of the transgene did not correlate with efficacy. Collectively, the results suggest that naked DNA encoding type I IFN applied post-infection provides a greater degree of protection against ocular HSV-1 infection in comparison with recombinant protein effectively antagonizing viral replication and spread.

A persistent immune response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is evidenced by the expression of cytokine transcripts along with infiltrating mononuclear cells in the ganglia of latently infected mice. In trigeminal ganglion (TG) explant co-cultures, the presence of nonirradiated or irradiated primed splenocytes significantly reduced HSV-1 reactivation as defined by secreted infectious HSV-1 found in the supernatants of TG explant cultures. Primed splenocytes depleted of CD4+ or CD8+ cells did not antagonize HSV-1 reactivation. Cytokines including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 were all detected in the TG explant cultures containing splenocytes. To further study the role of cytokines in HSV-1 reactivation, dissociated TG cell cultures were treated with exogenous recombinant cytokines including IFN-alpha or -gamma, IL-4, 6, 10, 12 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha at concentrations ranging from 2.0 pg to 2.0 ng/culture (or 0.3-300 units/culture for the IFNs). While no cytokines tested at any concentration significantly modified HSV-1 reactivation, neutralizing antibody to IL-6, but not to IFN-alpha/beta, significantly antagonized HSV-1 reactivation. Collectively, the results suggest that IL-6 is directly or indirectly involved in HSV-1 reactivation in TG explant cultures.

Pharmacological evidence indicates that lymphocytes express opioid receptors, but this finding has been questioned. By DNA sequencing of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products, we have found that mouse lymphocytes express mRNA encoding an orphan opioid receptor. These mRNA transcripts were detected in the CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD4 − CD8 − lymphocyte subpopulations. Northern blot analysis confirmed that splenic lymphocytes express a 1.5-kb orphan opioid receptor mRNA. Fifteen bases encoding Tyr 71 -Arg 75 in the first intracellular loop are alternatively spliced, suggesting that orphan opioid receptor mRNA encodes two receptor subtypes. Treatment of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lymphocytes with orphan opioid receptor antisense oligonucleotides suppressed polyclonal IgG and IgM production by 50%. Our results provide direct evidence that lymphocytes express an opioid-like receptor gene, and suggest that this receptor plays a functional role in immunocompetence.

Alpha 1-adrenergic pathways are involved in morphine-induced suppression of murine splenic NK activity. To investigate the level of involvement following morphine administration, the peripheral acting alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist doxazosin and the broad acting alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine were employed. Mice preadministered phentolamine (2.0 mg/kg) exhibited a modest but insignificant suppression of splenic NK activity following morphine administration while mice preadministered doxazosin (1.0 mg/kg) or vehicle showed a significant decrease in splenic NK activity following morphine administration. Morphine was also found to significantly (P < 0.01) increase splenic serotonin levels (14.88 +/- 1.62 ng/mg) relative to saline-treated controls (7.3 +/- 0.9 ng/mg). Both phentolamine and doxazosin pretreatment completely or partially blocked morphine-mediated elevation of splenic serotonin levels, respectively. Morphine administration decreased the ability of NK cells to form conjugates with target (YAC-1 lymphoma) cells and decreased the number of active killer cells within the conjugate population. Collectively, these results implicate central alpha-adrenergic involvement following acute morphine administration in suppressing splenic NK activity indirectly through a reduction in the number of effector-target conjugates and active cytolytic effector cells.

We investigated the immunoregulatory properties of a recently described inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation, suppressin (SPN). It was determined that preincubation of murine leukocytes with SPN enhances natural killer cell (NK) activity. In addition, SPN potentiates interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) augmentation of NK activity. Furthermore, preincubation of murine leukocytes with SPN induces the production of IFN-alpha/beta. The IFN-alpha/beta produced is active in NK assays as well as vesicular stomatitis virus neutralization assays. In vivo, SPN increases the time of survival of C57BL/6 mice injected with EL-4 lymphoma cells. Interestingly, SPN inhibits immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, and IgM) production in response to the mitogen, concanavalin A in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the above data indicate SPN may have numerous applications in clinical science including tumor surveillance and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis.

Previous reports have shown that endogenous opiates (beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin) have effects on cells of the immune system at physiologic concentrations. Using murine spleen cells, we herein report that beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin can enhance the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) at suboptimal concentrations of alloantigen in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). This enhancement is seen at levels ranging from 2.9 X 10(-8) M to 2.9 X 10(-14) M and 1.45 X 10(-6) M to 1.45 X 10(-12) M for beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin, respectively. This enhancement can be partially blocked by naloxone at 10(-7) M. Furthermore, the simultaneous addition of met-enkephalin and beta-endorphin does not increase the enhancement of CTL generation by either opiate peptide alone suggesting that they are acting through the same receptor. This report gives added proof for the regulatory-loop theory between the neuroendocrine and immune systems.

The putative delta-opiate receptor complex has been identified by a new approach which employed an antibody that is directed against a peptide which binds gamma-endorphin and is specified by RNA that is complementary to that of gamma-endorphin mRNA. This antibody competes with beta-endorphin and naloxone for binding sites on the surface of neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. The opiate receptor complex has an apparent molecular weight of 210,000 and is composed of four noncovalently associated subunits with apparent molecular weights of 68,000, 58,000, 45,000 and 30,000.