The intrinsic and innate immune responses serve as the first line of defense against viral infections, including HSV. They work together to limit the spread of viral replication until the body develops an adaptive immune response. Intrinsic immunity is directly mediated by host cell restriction factors such as promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies Constituent Proteins (PML-NBs) to control viral expression [
93]. The innate immune response is initiated through the cellular expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns[
94]. This recognition stimulates the secretion of interferon (IFN) α, β, or γ, along with other cytokines[
95,
96,
97]. These cytokines can act in an autocrine and paracrine manner and play a crucial role in controlling HSV infection and coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses. Among the PRRs, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are involved in detecting HSV nucleic acids and proteins. TLR2 interacts with gH/gL on the viral envelope and signals through myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) [
98,
99]. TLR2 activation promotes the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, exerting antiviral effects. However, studies on TLR2-deficient mice infected with HSV have shown that these mice exhibit fewer symptoms and longer survival than wild-type mice, suggesting that TLR2 activation may have harmful effects on the host [
100,
101]. TLR3 recognizes dsDNA, induces nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation and IFN production to exert antiviral effects[
102]. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis can be caused by defects in the TLR 3 pathway[
103]. Mouse experiments suggest that astrocytes rely on TLR3 to mediate resistance to HSV infection [
104]. However, another study demonstrated that TLR3-deficient neurons and oligodendrocytes were more susceptible to HSV-1 infection compared to control cells, indicating the importance of TLR3 in protecting neuronal cells from HSV infection [
105]. TLR9 recognizes HSV DNA and is significant for certain cell types, such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), where the absence of TLR9 results in impaired IFN responses [
95,
106]. The HSV DNA within the cytoplasm is encapsulated by capsid proteins, thereby being protected. However, a mechanism observed in macrophages involves the degradation of the HSV capsid, resulting in the release of HSV DNA into the cytoplasm. Consequently, there are pathways in the cell for the detection of HSV-1 DNA. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and IFI16 can detect the released HSV DNA in the cell and activate STING, leading to the recruitment of TBK1, activation of IRF3, and induction of IFN[
107,
108,
109,
110].
Figure 3.
Pattern diagram of immune cell response process triggered by PRR signal triggered by HSV-1 infection. Inducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines or IFN through the TLR signaling pathway (left, middle) or RLR signaling pathway (right). In the TLR signaling pathway, TLR2 recognizes signals induced by HSV-1 envelope proteins, such as gB or gD. The signal is transmitted to the cytoplasm, where MyD88 binds to the cytoplasmic domain of TLR2, leading to the activation of transcription factors like NF-κB. This activation promotes the translocation of P50/P65 into the nucleus and increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines and IFN-1. Additionally, TLR3, TLR7/8, and TLR9 signaling are activated by dsRNA, ssRNA, or CpG DNA, respectively, in endosomes. These signals activate IRF-3, IRF-7, and NF-κB, ultimately resulting in increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, IFN-1, IFN-III, and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). In the RLR signaling pathway, RIG-I and MDA5, which contain N-terminal caspase activation and recruitment domains, recruit and activate the mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein to mediate signal transduction. The activated MAVS protein further activates downstream signaling, promoting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and IFN.Both pathways contribute to the immune response against HSV-1 infection by triggering the production of inflammatory cytokines and interferons, which play crucial roles in controlling viral replication and coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses.
Figure 3.
Pattern diagram of immune cell response process triggered by PRR signal triggered by HSV-1 infection. Inducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines or IFN through the TLR signaling pathway (left, middle) or RLR signaling pathway (right). In the TLR signaling pathway, TLR2 recognizes signals induced by HSV-1 envelope proteins, such as gB or gD. The signal is transmitted to the cytoplasm, where MyD88 binds to the cytoplasmic domain of TLR2, leading to the activation of transcription factors like NF-κB. This activation promotes the translocation of P50/P65 into the nucleus and increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines and IFN-1. Additionally, TLR3, TLR7/8, and TLR9 signaling are activated by dsRNA, ssRNA, or CpG DNA, respectively, in endosomes. These signals activate IRF-3, IRF-7, and NF-κB, ultimately resulting in increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, IFN-1, IFN-III, and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). In the RLR signaling pathway, RIG-I and MDA5, which contain N-terminal caspase activation and recruitment domains, recruit and activate the mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein to mediate signal transduction. The activated MAVS protein further activates downstream signaling, promoting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and IFN.Both pathways contribute to the immune response against HSV-1 infection by triggering the production of inflammatory cytokines and interferons, which play crucial roles in controlling viral replication and coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses.
The adaptive immune response plays a crucial role in managing HSV infection and reactivation. Cell-mediated immunity, particularly involving T cells, is a key component of the adaptive immune response. After viral infection, cells present antigens to CD8+ T cells through surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 molecules. This triggers the elimination of infected cells, limiting viral spread. T cells have been found to play a major role in the adaptive immune response to HSV. Specific T cells have been identified in sensory ganglia of infected individuals and in active and latent lesions of patients [
111,
112,
113,
114]. Following acute HSV infection, the percentage of blood-specific T cells is lower in infected individuals [
115,
116]. HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in the blood express high levels of cytolytic molecules when re-exposed to viral antigens [
117]. CD4+ T cells recognize HSV-1 proteins and express cytokines associated with helper T cell type 1 (Th1)/Th0-like responses with cytolytic potential [
116,
118].
HSV-1 is capable of establishing a latency period in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of severely combined immunodeficient mice, even when CD8+ memory T cells are transplanted prior to infection. However, the presence of T cells reduces the number of infected DRG neurons, potentially limiting HSV-1 reactivation [
119,
120]. In mouse models, the rate of in vitro reactivation of trigeminal ganglia (TG) is directly correlated with viral ganglionic load, rather than the number of specific CD8+ T cells [
121]. Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells are also present in the TG following human HSV-1 infection [
111,
112]. The infiltrating T cells in human infected TGs are characterized as memory effector T cells and surround the cell bodies and axons of neurons [
111,
122]. In mouse models, memory CD8+ T cells express interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), which prevents HSV replication in neurons and inhibits neuronal apoptosis, potentially promoting the survival of neurons and HSV-1 silencing and latency [
123,
124,
125]. The mechanism of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell recognition of latently infected neurons is not fully understood. It is possible that there may be limited viral gene expression that can be recognized by T cells, allowing CD8+ T cell recognition and reactivation, along with potentially low levels of neuronal MHC class I molecule expression [
126]. Additionally, satellite cells can act as antigen-presenting cells and express T-cell suppressor molecules to control HSV-1 latency without damaging neurons [
127]. HSV also employs various strategies to inhibit antigen presentation and modulate adaptive immune responses. For example, the viral protein ICP47 blocks antigen presentation, and ICP34.5 inhibits autophagy, which is involved in antigen presentation [
128]. Furthermore, HSV can inhibit antibody responses by interacting with antibodies and complement components, inhibiting antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [
129]. These mechanisms suggest that HSV can modulate the adaptive immune response and influence the pathogenesis of the infection.