Age-dependent resistance of human alveolar macrophages to herpes simplex virus

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Abstract
Studies in mice demonstrate an age-dependent susceptibility to disseminated herpesvirus infection which is mediated, at least in part, by a defect in macrophage anti-viral function. The growth of herpes simplex virus [HSV] was examined within human alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchopulmonary lavage from neonates, adults with a variety of immunosuppressive disorders and healthy adult volunteers. At 24 h post-infection, mean viral titers in neonatal macrophages increased 19-fold over adsorbed virus levels, a highly significant increase when compared to immunosuppressed or normal adult macrophages (P < 0.0005). Human macrophages, like those of mice, may exhibit age-dependent permissiveness for the replication of HSV. Human newborns are highly susceptible to disseminated HSV infections, whereas adults are not.

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