Dynamic Expression of Chemokines and the Infiltration of Inflammatory Cells in the HSV-Infected Cornea and its Associated Tissues

Abstract

Background: The chemotactic signals regulating cell trafficking in the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected cornea are well documented, however, those in the cornea-associated tissues, such as the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and draining lymph nodes (LNs), are largely unknown. Objectives: To examine chemokine expression and subsequent cell infiltration in the HSV-1 infected cornea and its associated tissues. Study design: Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were infected with 10 μ l HSV-1 (CHR3 strain: 5 × 10⁶ PFU/ml) by corneal scarification. Total RNAs were extracted from the corneas, TGs, and LNs at pre-inoculation, 3 days post-inoculation (P.I.) and 7 days P.I. The mRNA for 28 different chemokines in the extracts was amplified by RT-PCR. Infiltrating cells were identified by immunohistochemistry. Result: After the HSV-1 infection, the corneal stroma became edematous by infiltrated cells under the eroded epithelium. The TG and LNs were markedly swollen. The cornea was infiltrated with granulocytes and CD11b⁺ cells at 3 days P.I., followed by CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells at 12 days P.I. In the TG, CD11b⁺ cells, but no granulocytes, infiltrated throughout the observation period. T cells migrated into the TG earlier than into the cornea. Gene expressions of neutrophil-attracting chemokines (CXCL1, 2, 3, and 5) increased in the cornea, but they did not enhance in the TG or LNs. On the other hand, gene expressions of chemokines which attract CD11b⁺ cells such as CCL2, 8, 7, 12, CCL3, 4, and CCL5, increased in the cornea and TG with its peak at 3 days P.I. Gene expressions of chemokines those work on T cells and B cells, such as CCL19, CCL21, CXCL9, CXCL13, CXCL10, XCL1, and CXCL16, were up-regulated and peaked at 3 days P.I. in the cornea and in the TG. Thus, pattern of chemokine gene expression was similar in the cornea and in the TG. On the contrary, gene expressions of chemokines in the draining LNs affecting CD11b⁺ cells and T cells were temporarily down-regulated. Conclusion: Upon HSV-1 infection, dynamic gene expression of chemokines was observed not only in the inoculated cornea but also in its associated tissues.

KEYWORDS:

• HSK (herpetic stromal keratitis)
• chemokine
• cornea
• lymph nodes
• trigeminal ganglion