J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2006 Jun;13(2):132-139.

Reduced Th1 Response with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Behcet's Disease

• Lee EB
• Kim KY
• Kim SY
• Hwang ES
• Park CG
• Cha CY
• Song YW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the interaction of herpes simplex virus type 1 antigen and T cells in Behcet's disease.
METHODS
Intracellular interferon-gamma response of T cells was measured before and after stimulation with herpes simplex virus type 1 in 17 patients with Behcet's disease and 20 healthy controls. The proliferation rate and the changes of CD4+/CD8+ T cell subsets were also measured.
RESULTS
In the basal status, the proportions of interferon-gamma producing CD4+ or CD8+ T cells were higher in patients with Behcet's disease than healthy controls. The number of interferon-gamma producing CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in patients with Behcet's disease was significantly decreased after stimulation with herpes simplex virus (mean+/-SD, 14.6+/-6.4 % vs 10.0+/-4.7%, p=0.0052 for CD4+ T cells; 29.5+/-14.2% vs 21.2+/-11.8%, p=0.045 for CD8+ T cells), while it did not change in healthy controls (11.5+/-7.4% vs 11.2+/-6.3%, p=0.88 for CD4+ T cells; 19.8+/-15.2 vs 20.7+/-10.8, p=0.84 for CD8+ T cells). There was no difference in the proliferation rate or CD4+/CD8+ subset changes between patients with Behcet's disease and healthy controls.
CONCLUSION
The stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 leads to the reduction of interferon-gamma producing T cells in patients with Behcet's disease. These findings suggest that the stimulation with herpes simplex virus type 1 antigen may reverse the interferon-gamma dominant status of the Behcet's disease.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; Herpes simplex virus type 1; Interferon-gamma

MeSH Terms

Herpes Simplex*
Herpesvirus 1, Human*
Humans
Interferon-gamma
Simplexvirus*
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T-Lymphocytes
Interferon-gamma