Stanberry L R
Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229.
J Infect Dis. 1990 Jul;162(1):29-34. doi: 10.1093/infdis/162.1.29.
The neural spread of herpes simplex virus (HSV) via sensory nerves is an essential component of disease pathogenesis. Capsaicin, a specific toxin for sensory C-type fibers, interferes with neuronal function including axonal transport. Capsaicin treatment of guinea pigs before intravaginal HSV inoculation did not prevent ganglionic infection but ameliorated cutaneous herpetic disease, suggesting that anterograde but not retrograde virus spread involved a capsaicin-sensitive process. Similarly, treatment of latently infected animals reduced both spontaneous and ultraviolet radiation-induced herpetic recurrences, suggesting that capsaicin interfered with the anterograde spread of reactivated virus. These results suggest that the centrifugal spread of virus may involve either different pathways or mechanisms than are involved in centripetal HSV spread. The use of selective neuropharmacologic agents such as capsaicin may prove useful in further defining the pathophysiology of HSV disease.
单纯疱疹病毒（HSV）通过感觉神经的神经扩散是疾病发病机制的一个重要组成部分。辣椒素是一种针对感觉C型纤维的特异性毒素，会干扰包括轴突运输在内的神经元功能。在经阴道接种HSV之前对豚鼠进行辣椒素治疗并不能预防神经节感染，但能改善皮肤疱疹疾病，这表明顺行而非逆行的病毒传播涉及一个对辣椒素敏感的过程。同样，对潜伏感染动物的治疗减少了自发和紫外线辐射诱导的疱疹复发，这表明辣椒素干扰了再激活病毒的顺行传播。这些结果表明，病毒的离心扩散可能涉及与向心HSV扩散不同的途径或机制。使用如辣椒素这样的选择性神经药理学药物可能有助于进一步明确HSV疾病的病理生理学。
