Cell-mediated immunity to herpes simplex virus in man. V. Antibody-mediated cell-dependent immune lysis of herpes virus-infected target cells.

Thirty-four patients, subject to recurrent herpes labialis, have been studied. They have all been shown to have high serum levels of an antibody to HSV1. This antibody has the property of sensitizing HSV1-infected target cells to lysis by nonimmune effector lymphocytes. Of 23 subjects who gave no history of herpes labialis, only four had antibody demonstrable by this technique. The level of antibody remains essentially unchanged despite recrudescenes of herpes labialis in the susceptible subjects. Effector cell activity was present in all of these and other subjects tested except for two who were suffering from chronic lymphatic leukemia. We have positive evidence that the effector cells in this system are neither T cells nor macrophages. Additional evidence suggests that the effector cells may be "null" cells.