title: The herpes-specific immune response of individuals with herpes-associated erythema multiforme compared with that of individuals with recurrent herpes labialis.
abstract: Infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common precipitating factor in the development of erythema multiforme (EM). It is not known why only a few of the many individuals who experience recurrent HSV infection also develop herpes-associated EM (HAEM), although a difference in the HSV-specific immune response has been postulated. The purpose of this study was to compare the HSV-specific immune response of individuals with HSV infection alone with that of individuals with HAEM. There were 21 patients in each of the two groups. Four parameters of the HSV-specific immune response were examined: (1) anti-HSV IgG titers were measured by ELISA; (2) antibody neutralization was assessed using a plaque assay; and (3) antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity, and (4) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were investigated using a previously described in vitro HSV-specific cytotoxicity assay. No statistically significant differences were detected between the two patient groups. Thus, a difference in these HSV-specific immune mechanisms does not explain the development of HAEM in some individuals with recurrent HSV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brice
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stockert
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Weston
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000276:immunology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003165:Complement System Proteins