Significance of major histocompatibility complex(MHC) haplotype in the development of Behcet's disease-like symptom induced by herpes simplex virus in several inbred mouse strains

Abstract

It has been postulated that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B51 is associated with Behcet's disease. We already induced Behcet's disease-like symptom in ICR mice inoculated with herpes simplex virus. In order to demonstrate the role of histocompatibility antigen in the development of Behcet's diseaselike symptom, several inbred mouse strains-B10.BR (H-2 k 2k ), B10.RⅢ (H-2 r 2r ), Cb7BL/6 (H-2 b 2b ), C3H/He (H-2 k 2k )which had different types of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), were inoculated with herpes simplex virus type 1 (KOS strain). Manifestations such as oral, genital, cutaneous ulcers, uveitis, and arthritis, that are considered clinically significant for the diagnosis of Behcet's disease in patients appeared. By hematoxylin & eosin stain, inflammatory cells were accumulated around blood vessels in manifested skin tissues. HSV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in skin lesions of B10.BR, B10.RⅢ and C57BL/6 strains. Behcet's disease-like symptoms were developed in 40∼50% of B10.BR, B10.RⅢ and C57BL/6 strains, but in only 2% of C3H/He. B10.BR and C3H/He strains had a common haplotype (H-2 k 2k ) but the rate of manifestation was different. So, these results indicate that MHC is not directly correlated with the development of Behcet's disease in the herpes simplex virus induced animal models.