Murine immune responses to herpes simplex virus-1 in relation to nutrition

Abstract

We have observed significantly different immune responses for mice maintained on two different diets. These differences correlate with earlier observed differences in survival rates of mice following infection with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV). The diets, presumably nutritionally complete, were a Purina laboratory chow, and a Teklad egg white diet. This investigation examined both cell-mediated and humoral immunity to determine what responses aid in resistance to herpes infection in relation to nutrition. An infectious center assay using cultured peritoneal adherent cells demonstrated that macrophages from Teklad-fed mice inhibited viral replication to a greater extent than macrophages form Purina-fed animals. Macrophages from Teklad-fed mice were more efficient at phagocytizing latex beads. Interferon titers from plasma, spleen and cultured macrophages from Teklad-fed mice were significantly higher in response to stimulation by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid or inactive HSV than Purina-fed animal titers. Antibody titers following immunization with inactive HSV were equivalent for the dietary groups. We conclude that early, non-specific responses are in large part responsible for resistance to HSV infection and that the Teklad diet enhances these responses. The macrophage is important for ingestion of virus, inhibition of replication and interferon production.