Cell-mediated immunity in herpes simplex virus-infected mice: suppression of delayed hypersensitivity by an antigen-specific B lymphocyte.

Lymph node cells, regional to the site of infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), when taken 1 to 9 months p.i. and transferred to HSV-1 immune recipients, suppressed the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to the virus. The suppressive activity was specific for HSV-1 and was transferred by a thy-1.2-negative, Ig-positive, lymphocyte population. Anti-HSV-1 serum did not suppress the HSV-1-induced DTH response. Contralateral lymph nodes contained little or no suppressor cell activity but in infected, adult thymectomized mice, these lymph node cells were as effective as the draining node in transferring suppression. The significance of these observations for the pathogenesis of herpes infections is discussed.