Chemokines and ocular pathology caused by corneal infection with herpes simplex virus

The role played by chemokines in disease process is an active area of research that continues to uncover new players. In this report we discuss the likely role of selected chemokines in the disease herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK). This lesion occurs as a sequel to herpes simplex virus infection and is currently accepted as an immunopathological process which primarily involves CD4+ T lymphocytes. In this review we discuss the events involved in HSK, the chemokine profile associated with this disease, and speculate on cellular activities and molecular events which characterize HSK as an immunopathological disease.