Th1/Th2-like immunity and resistance to herpes simplex labialis

• Published in: Antiviral research Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 39 - 55
• Main Authors: SPRUANCE, S. L, EVANS, T. G, MCKEOUGH, M. B, THAI, L, ARANEO, B. A, DAYNES, R. A, MISHKIN, E. M, ABRAMOVITZ, A. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 01.09.1995
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines - immunology; Herpes Labialis - immunology; herpes simplex virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Infectious diseases; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Lip Diseases - virology; Medical sciences; Recurrence; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Ultraviolet Rays; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Human; Immunopathology; Recurrence; Antibody; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Cytokine; Herpes; Immunity; Infection; Virus; Oral cavity; Lip; Ultraviolet radiation; Herpesvirus hominis 1; Viral disease; Serum
• ISSN: 0166-3542; 1872-9096
• DOI: 10.1016/0166-3542(95)00037-M

To investigate potential immunologic mechanisms of resistance to recurrent herpes simplex labialis, we assayed serum antibody titers and cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine production among patients with a history of frequent episodes (H+S+), herpes simplex virus (HSV)-seropositive individuals without a history of herpes labialis (H-S+) and HSV-seronegative persons (H-S-). In addition, H+S+ patients were exposed to experimental ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the lips and the immunologic assay results compared among those who developed experimental lesions and those who did not. H+S+ patients were found to have higher median serum titers of HSV antibody and trends to lower levels of HSV-specific PBMC IFN-gamma and IL-2 than H-S+ control patients (123 vs 66, P = 0.04; 424 vs 548 pg/ml, P = 0.08; 14 vs 26 pg/ml, P = 0.14, respectively). Correlation of the results with the occurrence of experimental lesions showed the inverse: the subgroup of H+S+ patients with UVR-induced lesions had lower titers of antibody and trends to higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 than H+S+ patients who could not be induced (93 vs 149, P = 0.02; 501 vs 347 pg/ml, P = NS; 26 vs 11 pg/ml, P = NS, respectively). The size and duration of UVR-induced lesions showed positive correlations with IFN-gamma and IL-2 levels (r = 0.60-0.67, P = 0.02-0.04). Although the small number of patients limited the power of this study, the overall pattern of the findings suggests that a Th1-like cytokine response (IFN-gamma and IL-2 production) may be associated with resistance to naturally occurring episodes of herpes labialis. The development and severity of experimental UVR-induced herpes labialis appears to be regulated differently and may involve an immunopathologic mechanism.