IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS OF HERPETIC OCULAR DISEASE

Herpes viruses are among the most prevalent of human virus infections. Productive replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is usually confi ned to mucocutaneous sites by the rapid deployment of innate and adapt ive immune responses. Infection invariably results in establishment of latency and in some cases results in periodic reactivation of the vir us. This article focuses primarily on ocular herpes with emphasis on t he pathogenesis of stromal keratitis. Herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) is an immunopathologic disease, which indeed is one of the leading ca uses of blindness in the Western world. The mechanisms by which HSV in fection in human beings results in HSK is not well understood but stud ies using the mouse model has clearly indicated the role of T-cell-med iated immune response as the cause for ocular damage. We, in this arti cle, attempt to provide an interpretive synthesis on different aspects of HSK pathogenesis, reviewing what is currently known and speculatin g on mysterious issues, such as, whether HSK represents a virus-induce d autoimmune disease. We also discuss aspects of remission of the dise ase.