New research published in the Journal of
Leukocyte Biology suggests that T-cells responsible for controlling
Herpes reduce significantly during times of new infection, allowing
latent herpes virus to reactivate
The mere mention of the word "herpes"
usually conjures negative images and stereotypes, but most people
have been infected with some form of the virus. For most, a sore
appears, heals and is forgotten, although the virus remains latent
just waiting for the right circumstances to come back. Now, thanks
to new research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology's
November 2012 issue scientists show how the immune system may lose
its control over the virus when facing new microbial threats, such
as when it must fend off other viral invaders or bacteria.
"Because almost all people are infected
by one or more herpes family viruses during their lifetime, the
potential impact of these findings are significant," said Charles H.
Cook, M.D., FACS, FCCM, director of surgical critical care at The
Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, and a
researcher involved in the work. "We hope that by understanding how
these latent viral infections are controlled that we can prevent
reactivation events and improve people's lives."
To make this discovery, researchers
studied mice with latent herpes family cytomegalovirus (CMV) during
severe bacterial infections. They found that T-cells responsible for
CMV control were reduced significantly during a new infection with
bacteria. This, in effect, reduced the "brakes" which kept the virus
under control, allowing the virus to reactivate and cause disease.
When the immune system eventually sensed the reactivation, the
memory T-cell levels returned to normal, effectively restoring the
body's control over the virus.
"Finding ways to control herpes flare
ups is important, not only for the health of the person with the
virus, but also for preventing its transmission," said John Wherry,
Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "This
report highlights the important interplay when we are 'co-infected'
with more than one microbe and provides important insights into why
the immune system sometimes fails as well as how it can regain
control of latent herpes virus infections."
For more information
Details: Jonathan Campbell, Joanne Trgovcich, Michelle Kincaid,
Peter D. Zimmerman, Paul Klenerman, Stuart Sims, and Charles H.
Cook. Transient CD8-memory contraction: a potential contributor to
latent cytomegalovirus reactivation. J Leukoc Biol 92:933-937;
doi:10.1189/jlb.1211635 ;
http://www.jleukbio.org/content/92/5/933.abstract
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