Genital herpes shedding episodes associate with altered spatial organization and activation of mucosal immune cells

Abstract

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) infection results in variable rates of local viral shedding in anogenital skin. The effect of episodic viral exposures on immune cells in adjacent mucosal tissues, including the genital tract, is unknown. However, any immune responses at this site could affect protective mucosal immunity, tissue homeostasis, and adverse health outcomes. To investigate the effect of HSV-2 on cervicovaginal tract immunity, we applied flow cytometry, immunofluorescence imaging, analysis of soluble immune factors, and spatial transcriptomics to cervicovaginal tissue and blood samples provided by a total of 232 HSV-2-seropositive and seronegative participants, with genital HSV-2 shedding evaluated at the time of biopsy. This unique dataset was used to define and spatially map immune cell subsets and localized gene expression via spatial transcriptomics. HSV-2 seropositivity alone was associated with minimal differences in cervicovaginal and circulating T cell phenotypes. However, the vaginal mucosa during active HSV-2 shedding was associated with alterations in T cell, macrophage, and DC localization and gene expression, consistent with increased immune surveillance, with immune activating and suppressing signals potentially reinforcing mucosal tissue homeostasis.