FIG 2.
More total and HSV-specific CD8+ T cells are detected in LAT+ TG than in LAT– TG during latent herpes virus infection. Three groups of HLA Tg rabbits (n = 20) were ocularly infected with 2 × 105 PFU/eye of the wild-type McKrae (LAT+), its LAT-null virus mutant dLAT2903 (LAT–), or the marker-rescued virus dLAT2903R counterpart (LAT+). Both TG were harvested from each rabbit on days 0 (5 rabbits), 12 (5 rabbits), 21 (5 rabbits), or 35 (5 rabbits) postinfection. The 10 TG were pooled and treated with collagenase I, and the numbers and percentages of total CD3+ CD4+ T cells and CD3+ CD8+ T cells were determined in TG cell suspensions by FACS. (A) Representative dot plot showing the percentages (left panel) and the average numbers ± the SD/TG (right panel) of CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T cells per TG on day 12 postinfection (i.e., during acute infection). The bar graphs indicate the means and the SD of the two independent experiments with rabbits at each time point. (B) Dot plot showing the percentages (left panel) and the average numbers ± the SD/TG (right panel) of CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T cells per TG on day 35 postinfection (i.e., during latency). The bar graphs show the means and the SD of the two independent experiments with rabbits at each time point. (C) Kinetics of the percentages of total CD3+ CD8+ T cells detected in LAT+ TG, LAT– TG, and mock TG. (D) Average numbers of total CD3+ CD8+ T cells per TG from HLA Tg rabbits infected with marker-rescued virus dLAT2903R, wild-type McKrae, and LAT-null virus mutant dLAT2903 on day 12 (left panel) and day 35 (right panel).