Herpes simplex virus type 1 activates murine natural interferon-producing cells through toll-like receptor 9

Blood. 2004 Feb 15;103(4):1433-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-08-2674. Epub 2003 Oct 16.

Abstract

Natural interferon-producing cells (IPCs) specialize in the production of high levels of type 1 interferons (IFNs) in response to encapsulated DNA and RNA viruses. Here we demonstrate that the secretion of type 1 IFN in response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro is mediated by the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)/MyD88 pathway. Moreover, IPCs produce interleukin-12 (IL-12) in response to HSV-1 in vitro, which is also dependent on TLR9/ MyD88 signaling. Remarkably, though TLR9/MyD88-deficiency abrogates IPC responses to HSV-1 in vitro, mice lacking either MyD88 or TLR9 are capable of controlling HSV-1 replication in vivo after local infection, demonstrating that TLR9- and MyD88-independent pathways in cells other than IPCs can effectively compensate for defective IPC responses to HSV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Herpes Simplex / drug therapy
  • Herpes Simplex / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / growth & development
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / immunology*
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-12 / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Virus Replication / immunology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Interferon-alpha
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Tlr9 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Interleukin-12