Description:
<jats:p>We study the pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus-mediated corneal disease. T cells play a critical role both in disease and in the maintenance of latency in neurons. Consequently, the focus of this study was to evaluate the role that T cell costimulation plays both in corneal disease and in controlling the ability of the virus to maintain a stable infection of the ganglia that innervate the cornea. We demonstrate that in the absence of costimulation with CD28, corneal disease does not take place. However, this costimulation does not prevent the ability of CD8<jats:sup>+</jats:sup>T cells to develop and, thus, control latent infection of neurons. We conclude from these studies that CD28 costimulation is required for corneal destructive immune responses but that CD8<jats:sup>+</jats:sup>T cells develop over time and help to maintain latency.</jats:p>