Epithelial interferon-γ responsiveness shapes chemokine induction and clinical outcomes in herpes simplex virus infection.

Keratinocytes from asymptomatic HSV-2-infected individuals show significantly heightened IFNγ responses, especially at low doses, compared to symptomatic donors, influencing disease outcomes.

• Why it matters: Understanding why some individuals experience asymptomatic versus symptomatic HSV-2 infections remains unclear, particularly regarding epithelial immune responses that control viral reactivation and lesion development.
• What they did: Researchers examined primary keratinocytes and fibroblasts from both donor groups, measuring gene expression, chemokine induction, and signaling pathways in response to varying IFNγ doses, focusing on CXCL10 and STAT1 activation.
• The result: Enhanced IFNγ responsiveness in keratinocytes from asymptomatic individuals correlates with increased chemokine production and immune cell recruitment, suggesting intrinsic epithelial immune variation influences clinical outcomes and may inform therapeutic strategies.