{
  "abstract": "Ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is a major cause of infectious corneal disease that can lead to recurrent herpetic keratitis, chronic inflammation, and vision loss. Although effective antiviral immunity is essential for controlling HSV-1 and limiting recurrent disease, the mechanisms regulating recruitment of protective lymphocytes to the ocular mucosa remain incompletely understood. CCL28 is a mucosa-associated chemokine expressed at epithelial surfaces that signals through its receptor CCR10, expressed by distinct antiviral T- and B-cell subsets. Using a mouse model of recurrent ocular HSV-1 infection, we investigated the role of the CCL28/CCR10 axis in mobilizing protective HSV-1-specific immune cells to the ocular mucosa (OM). Following infection, wild-type (WT) B6 mice showed a marked increase in CCL28 expression within the OM, coinciding with accumulation of HSV-specific effector-memory (CCR10+CD44+CD62L-) T cells and CCR10+B220+ B cells in the OM and trigeminal ganglia (TG). These cells displayed an antigen-experienced, effector-memory phenotype, suggesting that CCL28/CCR10 signaling contributes to a localized antiviral immune response in the ocular mucosa. By contrast, CCL28-deficient (CCL28(-/-)) mice: (i) were more susceptible to recurrent ocular HSV-1 infection; (ii) exhibited significantly reduced frequencies of HSV-specific effector-memory (CCR10+CD44+CD62L-) and tissue-resident memory (CCR10+CD69+CD103+) T cells, as well as CCR10+B220+ B cells, in the infected OM and TG; and (iii) showed diminished effector function (IFN-{gamma}, TNF, and Granzyme B production) in these populations, associated with increased viral burden and ocular pathology. These findings identify the CCL28/CCR10 axis as a critical regulator of antiviral B- and T-cell trafficking to the ocular mucosa, contributing to protection against recurrent herpetic eye disease and providing a mechanistic basis for targeting mucosal chemokine pathways to improve vaccine strategies against ocular herpes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of California Irvine"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "S. Karan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Prakash"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Chhaya"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. X. LeNg"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "L. BenMohamed"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/chj8bmg2meceg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.14.751393",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751393v1.full",
  "id": "chj8bmg2meceg",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751393v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "immunology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213864855",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751393v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-14",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/chj8bmg2meceg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:23:25Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.14.751393",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751393v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Tissue-Resident and Effector-Memory Lymphocyte Recruitment to the Ocular Mucosa Requires CCL28/CCR10 Signaling During Recurrent HSV-1 Infection",
  "title_text": "Tissue-Resident and Effector-Memory Lymphocyte Recruitment to the Ocular Mucosa Requires CCL28/CCR10 Signaling During Recurrent HSV-1 Infection",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:23:25Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/chj8bmg2meceg",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}