New research from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
has identified a key mechanism that plays a part in the proliferation of herpes
viruses in human cells. The findings, which were published in The FASEB
Journal, could be useful for developing novel approaches in the treatment of
herpes.
The study in question was an observational study that
examined how laboratory cultures of human cells would react to herpes exposure
to herpes simplex virus 2 if they had been pre-treated with medications that
contained Akt inhibitors. It is worth mentioning that Akt is a signalling
molecule known to play part in many stages of a cell’s course, including
apoptosis (cell death). In the study,
the researchers either exposed the sample to one of four different treatments
known to inhibit Akt or did not expose the sample to any treatment. This lasted
15 minutes. In the next stage, the cells got exposure to herpes simplex virus
2. This lasted 60 minutes. The key findings indicated that all the cells that
had been treated with Akt inhibiting medications had a significantly lower
herpes virus infection regardless of the type of cells that had been exposed to
the virus. Conversely, cells that had not been treated with Akt inhibitors had
been more easily infected by exposure to herpes simplex 2 virus. This led the
researchers to conclude that treatments suppressing Akt could be useful for
suppressing herpes infections among individuals that have already got the
virus.
Although this study presents novel findings, the
rationale for it being conducted in the first place is logical when put into
context. Specifically, it is worth noting that this study further supports a
previous study by the same team, which found that the release of calcium in
cells affected the infection by the herpes simplex virus 2. However, we are not
aware of similar studies being conducted by other teams that would further
corroborate these findings. Similarly, it is too early to see the potential
long-term effects this treatment would have. Nevertheless, given the life-long
effects a herpes simplex 2 infection brings with it, we are glad to hear that
the area is given its due attention from researchers. Further details of this study can be read at The Journal of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology.