Differences in attachment between herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 viruses to neurons and glial cells

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Abstract
Fractions of nerve cell perikarya, synaptosomes and astrocytic glia were prepared from human [cynomolgus or African green] monkey, rabbit, rat and mouse brain tissue. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) binding capacity of these fractions was studied. Pre-treatment of fractions with 1 type of HSV and the subsequent testing of adsorption of homotypic and heterotypic virus was employed to reveal type selectivity of virus binding receptors. A higher density of HSV-1 than of HSV-2 selective receptors was found on synaptosomes and glial cells, except with mouse-derived preparations. Synaptosomal and glial cell preparations of mouse brains adsorbed both types of HSV well. Little or no adsorption was observed with HSV-1 and HSV-2 to neuronal perikarya. The type selectivity of HSV binding receptors on brain cells was demonstrated on preparations of human synaptosomes and mouse glial cells. Some possible implications of the observations on the HSV infection of the nervous system are discussed.