Interactions between herpes simpex virus and human immune system

Abstract

The human immune system employs a variety of strategies to eliminate the virus, whereas the herpes virus has developed an array of immune evasion mechanisms to escape its elimination by the host's immune system. Viral evasion molecules target components of innate and acquired immunity, including complement proteins, natural killer cells, MHC Class I or Class II molecules and antibody. Worlwide rates of HSV infection-are between 65% and 90% and can manifest as genital and orofacial lesions. HSV infection can be predominant preceding event in individuals that experience episodes of EM and it is called herpes-associated erythema multiforme (HAEM). Erythema multiforme is an acute mucocutaneos disorder, characterized by varying degrees of blistering and ulceration. We present clinical course of there patients (2 females; age 53,39 years and 1 man, age 42 years) with recurrent HAEM and successful disease control by combination with antiviral drugs and immunistimulation. The patients had the history of frequent (every moth) recurrent orofacial herpes simplex and presented EM with typical target lesions in skin and multiple ulcers in oral and genital mucosa. The immune system of the patients was evaluated by immunoglobulins levels, lymphocytes phenotyping, nitro blue tetrazolium test (NBT) and antibodies against. HSV, HIV, CMV were investigated. [...].