Abstract Intravenous injection of plasmid DNA encoding herpes simplex virus type-1 glycoprotein D (gD-1) complexed with asialoorosomucoid-poly-l-lysine (gD-ASOR) targets foreign DNA to the liver, leading to hepatic expression of gD-1. BALB/c mice were given two intravenous injections of gD-ASOR, pBK-ASOR (plasmid lacking the gD-1 gene but complexed with ASOR), or PBS. The skin was inoculated with 1 × 104 PFU of HSV-1 or sham-inoculated, and analyzed for infectious virus and cellular infiltration 1, 3, and 5 days after inoculation. Prior immunization with gD-ASOR led to significantly lower (P < 0.05) viral titers in the skin 5 days after inoculation compared with controls. Infiltration of the skin at the site of inoculation by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages was monitored immunohistochemically. Significantly higher numbers (P < 0.05) of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages responded to HSV-1 challenge in mice immunized with gD-ASOR than in mice immunized with pBK-ASOR or PBS. The response by PMNs and B cells was indistinguishable among the treatment groups. These results suggest that BALB/c mice sensitized to gD-1 following gD-ASOR immunization develop an enhanced T-cell response to primary HSV-1 infection.
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Received: 28 March 2000 / Revised: 5 May 2000 / Accepted: 4 September 2000
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Rogers, J., Bigley, N., Chiou, H. et al. Targeted delivery of DNA encoding herpes simplex virus type-1 glycoprotein D enhances the cellular response to primary viral challenge. Arch Dermatol Res 292, 542–549 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030000181
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030000181