Inflammation and Viral Infection: Chemotactic Activity Resulting from the Interaction of Antiviral Antibody and Complement with Cells Infected with Herpes Simplex Virus
Primary rabbit-kidney cells labelled with 51Cr were infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV). When newly synthesized viral antigens appeared on the surface of the cells, the monolayers were incubated with antibody to HSV and complement. One hour later, cellfree supernatants were assayed for chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes. Injury to the primary rabbitkidney cells was evaluated by measurement of the release of 51Cr. From five to 10 times more chemotactic activity and 10 times more 51Cr were present in supernatants from infected cells that had been exposed to antibody to HSV and complement than in the supernatants from controls. Moreover, it was shown that the interaction of antiviral antibody and complement with viral antigens absorbed to the surface of cells (before penetration) also resulted in the generation of chemotactic activity but did not cause injury to the cell. The data support the hypothesis that activation of the complement system is responsible, at least in part, for the inflammatory response observed in certain viral infections.