In the past grant period, we have shown that HSV-2 specific CD8+ T cells reside and persist at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) contiguous to the sensory nerve termini innervating the basal keratinocytes of the genital skin. Using laser capture microdissection we have isolated single CD8+ DEJ T cells in situ and interrogating these cells with transcriptional arrays and quantitative RT PCR assays. Our data indicates these cells express a wide variety of cytolytic and antiviral cytokines, as well as a unique homodimeric ?? chain signature. We have also developed rigorous and specific sampling methods to precisely pinpoint the sites of HSV-2 reactivation in the genitalia in time and space. Our preliminary data have shown wide differences in the number of CD8+ DEJ T cells in areas of genital skin. We now propose to apply these and other advanced methodologies to understand the immune surveillance mechanism of HSV-2 specific CD8+ T cells. Specifically, in Aim 1 we will probe the relationship between immunosurveillance and duration, severity, and frequency of HSV-2 reactivation. We hypothesize that the number of CD8+ T cells and/or their levels of expression of cytolytic and antiviral cytokines/chemokines will be inversely correlated with frequency of HSV-2 reactivation. Areas in which DEJ CD8+ T cells are in low numbers or express low functional activity will have a greater likelihood of reactivation than areas which are populated with high CD8+ T cells at the DEJ. We will also explore the relationships between clonal diversity and reactivation.
Aim 2 is directed at defining host-viral interactions among HIV+ persons. We hypothesize that HIV+ persons will exhibit altered quantitative and functional differences in immune surveillance and that these differences will be reflected in poorer containment of HSV-2. The comparisons between HIV+/HSV-2+ and HIV-/HSV-2+ persons will provide further evidence of the importance of CD8+ T cells at the DEJ in immune surveillance and corroborate the mechanistic functions define in S.A. 1.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal aims to understand the mechanism by which host immune cells, specifically resident mucosal CD8+ T cells, contain herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) reactivation at the source of their release from neuronal termini into basal keratinocytes of the genital skin/mucosa. Using laser capture microdissection and transcriptional arrays, we have shown that HSV-2 specific CD8+ T cells persist at the dermal-epidermal junction and that these cells express several cytolytic and antiviral cytokines. We now aim to further study the immune surveillance function of these cells and how they contain viral reactivation, a key concept that will lay the groundwork for better design and development of HSV-2 vaccines.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI042528-17
Application #
8640870
Study Section
AIDS-associated Opportunistic Infections and Cancer Study Section (AOIC)
Program Officer
David, Hagit S
Project Start
1997-12-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98109
Peng, Tao; Chanthaphavong, R Savanh; Sun, Sijie et al. (2017) Keratinocytes produce IL-17c to protect peripheral nervous systems during human HSV-2 reactivation. J Exp Med 214:2315-2329
Posavad, C M; Zhao, L; Dong, L et al. (2017) Enrichment of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) reactive mucosal T cells in the human female genital tract. Mucosal Immunol 10:1259-1269
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Gantt, Soren; Orem, Jackson; Krantz, Elizabeth M et al. (2016) Prospective Characterization of the Risk Factors for Transmission and Symptoms of Primary Human Herpesvirus Infections Among Ugandan Infants. J Infect Dis 214:36-44
Tjernlund, Annelie; Burgener, Adam; Lindvall, Jessica M et al. (2016) In Situ Staining and Laser Capture Microdissection of Lymph Node Residing SIV Gag-Specific CD8+ T cells--A Tool to Interrogate a Functional Immune Response Ex Vivo. PLoS One 11:e0149907
Diem, Kurt; Magaret, Amalia; Klock, Alexis et al. (2015) Image analysis for accurately counting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in human tissue. J Virol Methods 222:117-21
Posavad, C M; Zhao, L; Mueller, D E et al. (2015) Persistence of mucosal T-cell responses to herpes simplex virus type 2 in the female genital tract. Mucosal Immunol 8:115-26

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