Killing of human Herpes virus 6-infected cells by lymphocytes cultured with interleukin-2 or -12.

Abstract

Human Herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) is a causative agent of exanthema subitum and replicates mainly in lymphocytes. The aim of present study was to investigate cytotoxicity against HHV-6-infected cells by cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Human herpes virus 6-infected and -uninfected lymphocytes were used as target cells. Killing of target cells by CBMC and PBMC was investigated by the chromium release cytotoxicity assay. Freshly isolated CBMC and PBMC did not lyse HHV-6-infected and -uninfected cells. When CBMC and PBMC were cultured with interleukin (IL)-2, HHV-6-infected cells were significantly lysed compared with uninfected cells. Deletion of CD16+ cells by treatment of effector cells with anti-Leu-11b (CD16) antibody with complement reduced cytotoxicity against HHV-6-infected cells and T lymphocyte-rich cells did not lyse HHV-6-infected cells. Treatment of effector cells with anti-Fas ligand antibody and treatment of HHV-6-infected cells with anti-Fas antibody reduced cytotoxicity against HHV-6-infected cells. DNA fragmentation was detected in the supernatant from HHV-6-infected cells cultured with IL-2-activated lymphocytes. Culture of CBMC and PBMC with IL-12 also enhanced cytotoxicity against HHV-6-infected cells. These data suggest that lymphocytes cultured with IL-2 or IL-12 mediate killing against HHV-6-infected cells and killing of HHV-6-infected cells was through apoptosis. Fas-Fas ligand interaction is one pathway by which HHV-6-infected cells are killed. Killing of HHV-6-infected cells by NK cells activated by cytokines may play a role in the recovery from HHV-6 infection in vitro.