Immunopathogenesis of herpetic ocular disease

Abstract

Herpes viruses are among the most prevalent of human virus infections. Productive replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is usually confined to mucocutaneous sites by the rapid deployment of innate and adaptive immune responses. Infection invariably results in establishment of latency and in some cases results in periodic reactivation of the virus. This article focuses primarily on ocular herpes with emphasis on the pathogenesis of stromal keratitis. Herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) is an immunopathologic disease, which indeed is one of the leading causes of blindness in the Western world. The mechanisms by which HSV infection in human beings results in HSK is not well understood but studies using the mouse model has clearly indicated the role of T-cell-mediated immune response as the cause for ocular damage. We, in this article, attempt to provide an interpretive synthesis on different aspects of HSK pathogenesis, reviewing what is currently known and speculating on mysterious issues, such as, whether HSK represents a virus-induced autoimmune disease. We also discuss aspects of remission of the disease.