1. B cells join T cell clusters in the host response to recurrent herpes simplex virus 2 infection
- Author
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Jeff R. Gehlhausen and Akiko Iwasaki
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,T cell ,Naive B cell ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease_cause ,Immunoglobulin D ,Virus ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Herpes simplex virus ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Skin biopsy ,biology.protein ,medicine ,Antibody ,B cell - Abstract
Recurrent genital herpes lesions are infiltrated by various leukocytes, yet the role of B cell subsets in this process is unknown. In this issue of the JCI, Ford et al. describe the presence and antibody-secreting role of local B cell populations in herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) recurrent lesions. The authors analyzed a comprehensive array of sequential skin biopsy specimens from HSV-2-infected patients over time and at various stages of infection. Using immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization, the authors show the presence of rare IgD+ naive B cells and IgG-expressing antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in recurrent HSV-2 lesions embedded in CD4+ T cell-rich dermal immune infiltrates, levels of which transiently increase during lesion reactivation and healing. Notably, local increases in HSV-2-specific antibodies in recurrent lesions were detected, whereas serum HSV-2 antibody levels remained stable. Future research is needed to understand the precise role of these tissue-visiting B cells in disease resolution.
- Published
- 2021