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Induction of apoptosis by herpes simplex virus-1 in neonatal, but not adult, neutrophils.

Ennaciri J, Menezes J, Proulx F, Toledano BJ

Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

We report a study on the effect of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection on apoptosis of neutrophils from both adults and neonates and present evidence showing that HSV-1 enhances apoptosis in neonatal, but not adult, neutrophils. HSV-1 enhanced the expression of both Fas and Fas ligand on the surface of neonatal neutrophils. Treatments with anti-Fas antibody and a Fas ligand inhibitor significantly reduced the induction of apoptosis by HSV-1. Using an ELISA assay, it was found that HSV-1 infection also leads to increased release of soluble FasL from HSV-1-infected neonatal neutrophils. Increased neonatal neutrophil apoptosis following HSV-1 infection may represent an important mechanism by which HSV-1 may diminish the antiviral response of neonatal neutrophils and might explain, at least in part, the severity of infections that are caused in newborns by this herpesvirus.

Published 28 December 2005 in Pediatr Res, 59(1): 7-12.
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