Methods for screening for agents capable of modulating t lymphocyte function in response to a herpes simplex virus-infected cell

摘要

Disclosed are methods for screening an agent for activity in modulating a T lymphocyte. The methods generally comprises contacting a HSV U_S3-expressing cell with a T lymphocyte in the presence or absence of the agent and monitoring a physiological change associated with CTL function to determine whether the agent modulates CTL activity. In particular, the HSV U_S3-expressing cell line can be a HSV-infected fibroblast and the physiological change associated with CTL function is a reduction or inhibition of the phosphorylation of HSP90 and/or a 50 kD CTL protein. Also disclosed are methods for blocking suppression of CTL activity against HSV-infected target cells, as well as methods for suppressing CTL activity against a target antigen.