Viral antigens in the immune ring of Herpes simplex stromal keratitis
R. H. Meyers-Elliott, T. H. Pettit and W. A. Maxwell
Corneal tissue obtained during superficial keratectomy from a patient with
herpesvirus disciform keratitis was studied by immunoelectron microscopy.
Clinically, this cornea had a dense central infiltrate with a
circumferential opaque ring histologically resembling the immune ring
described by Wessely. Histologically, along the line of altered keratocytes
and ground substance, an infiltration of inflammatory cells was found.
Herpesvirus particles were seen by electron microscopy in the corneal
stroma, but these virus particles had abnormal, noninfective forms such as
empty capsids and incomplete virions. By immunoelectron microscopy with a
peroxidase-labeled antiherpesvirus antibody reagent, herpes-virus antigens
were localized inthe corneal keratocytes and in the corneal stroma. The
major localization of the virus antigens was in association with the herpes
virions and surrounding vacuoles in the keratocyte nucleus and in the
corneal stroma in the area of degenerating keratocytes. These findings
support the view of a hypersensitivity mechanism in the pathogenesis of
herpes simplex virus disciform keratitis.
