FIG. 2.

VP16 mutation potentiates expression of RANTES during HSV-1 infection in vivo. Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were infected with wt or VP16-deficient HSV-1 (10⁶ PFU) or treated with a mock preparation. At 24 h later, PCs were harvested and either cultured for 24 h in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 5% FCS or lysed for subsequent RNA purification. (A) RANTES was measured in the cell culture supernatants by ELISA. The results are shown as means of five mice per group ± SEM. Essentially similar results were seen in two independent experiments. *, P < 0.05. (B) Total RNA was reverse transcribed and analyzed for the presence of RANTES and β-actin by PCR. Essentially similar results were seen in two independent experiments.