B7-H1 (CD274) inhibits the development of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK)

The co-signaling molecule B7-H1 (CD274) functions as both a co-inhibitor through programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and a co-stimulator via an as-yet-unidentified receptor on T cells. We investigated the physiological role of endogenous B7-H1 in the pathogenesis of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Following HSV-1 infection of the cornea of mice, B7-H1 expression was up-regulated in the CD11b⁺ macrophage population in the draining lymph nodes (dLN) and in the inflamed cornea. In addition, HSV-1 infection significantly increased PD-1 expression on CD4⁺ T cells in the dLN and inflamed cornea. The administration of antagonistic B7-H1 monoclonal antibody resulted in the proliferation of HSV-specific CD4⁺ T cells that secreted interferon (INF)-γ, and inhibited the apoptosis of HSV-specific CD4⁺ T cells, which exaggerated HSK. These results strongly suggest that the B7-H1 may be involved in suppression of the development of HSK.