title: Symptomatic Reactivation of HSV Infection Correlates with Decreased Serum Levels of TNF-α.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are human pathogens that establish lytic and latent infections. Reactivation from latency occurs intermittently, which represents a life-long source for recurrent infection. The role of immune factors in the control of recurrent symptomatic HSV lesions is complex and the exact role of cytokines remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) along with anti-herpetic IgG and IgM, in the symptomatic reactivation of HSV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with recurrent symptomatic herpes infection were selected as the study group and thirty-two healthy individuals with no history of symptomatic labial herpes infection enrolled as the control group. Skin swabs were obtained from lip and skin lesions for viral culture. Confirmation of HSV cytopathic effect was carried out using PCR assay. The levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IgG and IgM were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of TNF-α was significantly lower in individuals with recurrent symptomatic herpes infection in comparison with the controls (p=0.04). Also a significant elevation was observed in the levels of specific IgG in patients compared to controls (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased level of TNF-α and increased levels of IgG in individuals with a history of symptomatic reactivation of HSV infection is suggestive of a probable shift in favor of the Th2 immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, e-mail: motamedm@sums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motamedifar
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarvari
authors.forename: Azin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebrahimpour
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emami
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10