Immunostimulatory function of herpes simplex virus isolates from patients with frequent herpes labialis and a deficiency in immunespecific interferon production

Abstract
Approximately 30% of persons with frequent episodes of herpes labialis are deficient in the production of HSV‐induced immunespecific interferon (IFN) (Green, 1985). Herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains isolated from persons who make immunespecific IFN and from persons who do not make it were examined for their immunostimulatory capabilities. HSV isolated from the primary oral lesions of two patients deficient in immunespecific IFN production, one person with an intact immunespecific IFN response, HSV types 1 and 2 laboratory strains, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were added to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBML) from HSV seropositive donors. All HSV‐isolates induced comparable titers of immunespecific IFN. These studies suggest that failure of some patients to develop an immunespecific IFN response is determined by the host, not the virus.