Herpesviruses in human periodontal disease

Abstract

Recent studies have identified various herpesviruses in human periodontal disease. Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1) infects periodontal B-lymphocytes and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects periodontal monocytes/ macrophages and T-lymphocytes. EBV-1, HCMV and other herpesviruses are present more frequently in periodontitis lesions and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis-lesions than in gingivitis or periodontally healthy sites. Reactivation of HCMV in periodontitis lesions tends to be associated with progressing periodontal disease. Herpesvirus-associated periodontitis lesions harbor elevated levels of periodontopathic bacteria, including Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteriodes forsythus, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens and Treponema denticola. It may be that active periodontal herpesvirus infection impairs periodontal defenses, thereby permitting subgingival overgrowth of periodontopathic bacteria. Alteration between latent and active herpesvirus infection in the periodontium might lead to transient local immunosuppression and explain in part the episodic progressive nature of human periodontitis. Tissue tropism of herpesvirus infections might help explain the localized pattern of tissue destruction in periodontitis. Absence of herpesvirus infection or viral reactivation might explain why some individuals carry periodontopathic bacteria while still maintaining periodontal health. Further studies are warranted to delineate whether the proposed herpesvirus-periodontopathic bacteria model might account for some of the pathogenic features of human periodontal disease.

Investigação do vírus Epstein-Barr em pacientes com Periodontite Crônica

“…Se isto for verdade, segundo Contreras, Slots 27 (2000) e Ogawa et al 28 (1982), o tratamento direcionado aos vírus do herpes, incluindo vacinas para o CMV e para o EBV, poderia ser eficazmente empregado na prevenção e no tratamento da doença periodontal. O entendimento sobre a influência dos papéis dos vírus e bactérias na patogênese da periodontite pode ajudar a explicar as características da doença e a identificar pessoas que apresentam alto risco à destruição periodontal.…”

“…O entendimento sobre a influência dos papéis dos vírus e bactérias na patogênese da periodontite pode ajudar a explicar as características da doença e a identificar pessoas que apresentam alto risco à destruição periodontal. Segundo os estudos de Parra et al 20 (1996), Grande et al 24 (2008), Contreras et al 25 (1997) e Contreras, Slots 27 (2000), a associação entre a doença periodontal e a infecção por herpes pode ser um reflexo da característica imunoinflamatória alterada do hospedeiro, a qual coloca o paciente sob risco para ambas as condições. Mesmo não sendo o mecanismo causal primário para a doença periodontal, a infecção herpética pode contribuir para a morbidade da condição.…”

Herpes Viruses – An Overview

“…There are eight types of human herpes viruses, belonging to three subgroups defined by the type of cell most frequently infected and the site of latency: [1,3,4] (Table 1) 1. α-group viruses: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and varicella zoster virus (VZV); infect epithelial cells and produce latent infection in neurons 2. β-group viruses: cytomegalo virus (CMV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), and human herpes virus 7 (HHV-7); infect and produce latent infection in a variety of cell types 3. γ-group viruses: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8); produce latent infection mainly in lymphoid cells. …”

“…The following are characteristics common to the herpes viruses: [1,2,3]  Herpes viruses are large encapsulated viruses that contain four layers: 1. Genome: an inner core of double-stranded DNA molecule ranging in size from 124 to 235 kbp 2.…”

“…Herpes viruses are DNA viruses and their genome contains information necessary for programming the infected host cell to synthesize specific macromolecules required for their replication. [1] They can persist within the host cells for years (non-replicating form) only to be reactivated later. [2] …”