Extraneuronal herpetic latency: animal and human corneal studies

Abstract

HSV DNA has been previously detected by both in situ and dot blot hybridization in neuronal tissues latently infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV), but not in extraneuronal tissues. The present study, using dot blot hybridization with a cloned full-length HSV DNA probe and subtractive hybridization assays for detecting HSV RNA, reveals both the presence and activity of the HSV genome in 100% of HSV latently infected rabbit corneas tested. Studies on human herpetic corneas taken at keratoplasty using slot blot hybridization with a cloned full-lenght HSV DNA probe demonstrated positive binding (hybridization) to the probe in 50% of samples tested but no binding to normal human control DNA. These studies confirm earlier, less sensitive virus recovery assays and implicate the cornea as an extraneuronal site of HSV latency and reactivation.

The relationship of graft survival and herpes simplex virus latency in recipient corneal buttons

“…Activation and centrifugal migration of latent virus from trigeminal ganglion is the pathogenesis of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK). HSV virus can also undergo latency and reactivation in the cornea as an extraneuronal site after HSK disease (Pavan-Langston et al 1989;Rong et al 1991). In previous studies HSV detection rate by PCR ranged from 32% to 82% in donor cornea buttons of subjects with a past history of herpes keratitis (Cantin et al 1991;van Gelderen et al 2000;Kaye et al 2000).…”