Immunity to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). I. Development of virus-specific lymphoproliferative and leukocyte migration inhibition factor responses in HSV-2-infected guinea pigs

The development of virus-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) memory and effector response was studied in strain 13/N guinea pigs infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (G). The indirect leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) and the lymphocyte transformation (LT) assays, chosen as probable indicators of effector and memory responses, respectively, were performed simultaneously on spleen cells (SC) obtained at varying times after infection and cultured in the presence of uv-inactivated HSV-2 (G) antigen. Kinetic and dose-response analyses revealed: (i) a time-dependent increase in the magnitude and antigen sensitivity of the LT response as well as a time-dependent decrease in the in vitro “doubling time,” both suggestive of immune maturation, and (ii) a biphasic pattern of LIF production in vitro consisting of an “early” component generated within the first 24 hr in culture, and a “late” component detected between 3 and 6 days in culture. “Late” LIF production correlated well with the lymphoproliferative response and appeared to require the presence of glass-adherent cells and active cell division.