title: Immunological aspects of acute and recurrent herpes simplex keratitis.
abstract: Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) belongs to the major causes of visual morbidity worldwide and available methods of treatment remain unsatisfactory. Primary infection occurs usually early in life and is often asymptomatic. Chronic visual impairment and visual loss are caused by corneal scaring, thinning, and vascularization connected with recurrent HSV infections. The pathogenesis of herpetic keratitis is complex and is still not fully understood. According to the current knowledge, corneal scarring and vascularization are the result of chronic inflammatory reaction against HSV antigens. In this review we discuss the role of innate and adaptive immunities in acute and recurrent HSV ocular infection and present the potential future targets for novel therapeutical options based on immune interventions.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4841-6120
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Transplantology, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 11, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hus
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines