Role of apoptosis induced by acute herpes simplex virus
Irie, H.; Aita, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 58(4): 794-800
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 10774197 Document Number: 518250
Apoptosis is induced by acute herpes simplex viral infection in the adrenal cortex, myenteric plexus of the gut, ovary, and liver of mice. Viral replication is closely related to apoptosis. This apoptosis is increased in immunosuppressive regions like the adrenal cortex and liver of macrophag-depleted mice. However, the herpes simplex virus is known to possess US3 gene, which interferes with cell apoptosis. In the liver of macrophage-depleted mice infected with US3 gene-deficient mutant herpes, the apoptosis is confined to within the narrow limits of inflammatory cell infiltration, mainly of neutrophils, and it plays a part in the restriction of virus multiplication. Thus, a possibility exists that apoptosis works as a primitive immunity in herpes simplex virus infection.