Defective in vitro lymphoproliferative responses to herpes simplex virus in patients with frequently recurring herpes infections during the disease-free interval

Abstract

The in vitro lymphoproliferative responses to HSV type 1 antigen were tested in patients with frequently recurring herpes labialis during active recrudescence and during the disease-free interval. Lymphocytes from all patients reacted to the antigen with significant lymphoproliferation. However, 9 of 10 patients showed a significantly lower response during the interval than during active disease. The responses of the patient group were compared with the reactivity of blood bank donors who had neutralizing serum antibodies to HSV but no history of frequently recurring herpes labialis. The responses of the patients during active disease did not significantly differ from those of the control group, but the responses during the interval were significantly lower than those of the control group. We have also tested the lymphoproliferative responses to C. parvum, which represents a disease-unrelated stimulant and a mitogen rather than an antigen. Again, the responses of the patients during active disease were significantly higher than those during the interval. The latter were also lower than those of normal controls. Our study suggests the possibility of a defect of cell-mediated immunity in patients with recurrent herpes labialis during the disease-free interval which might play a role in the recurrence of HSV-induced disease.