Complement-mediated Cytolysis of HSV-1 and HSV-2 Infected Cells: Plasma Membrane Antigens Reactive with Type-specific and Cross-reactive Antibody

Abstract

Surface antigens of [baby hamster kidney BHK-21] BHK-21 cells infected with HSV[herpes simplex virus]-1 or HSV-2 were radioiodinated (125I) with lactoperoxidase, immune precipitated and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Experiments using antiserum to HSV-1 or HSV-2, absorbed with appropriate homotypic or heterotypic antigens, revealed that both type-specific (homotypic) and cross-reactive antibody combined with surface glycoproteins to form a single large radioactive peak. This peak, which constituted the major glycoprotein region (region a) observed in electropherograms, represented a range in MW from 115,000-130,000. Sensitization of cells to complement lysis, neutralization of infectious virus and immune precipitation of surface glycoproteins (region a) were generally correlated properties of all the antibody preparations analyzed, including antibody prepared specifically against region a antigens. These findings suggest a major immunological role for the surface glycoproteins migrating in PAGE region a.