The association between human herpesviruses and periodontal disease: Part 1. Herpesviruses immune evasion. A review.

Recognition of immediate-early and early viral proteins during latent infection by the immune system, and early destruction of the infected cells before the herpesvirus enters its replication cycle might prevent viral reactivation. The herpesviruses remain partially or completely hidden from the immune system during latency, since they encode a variety of gene products--some of which are homologous to those of the host--that have the potential to evade host immune responses. Herpesviruses can modulate normal immunoregulatory functions including apoptosis, cytokine mediated immune response, cellular recognition and activity of complement and antibody response, among others.