Associations between host genetic variants and Herpes Simplex Labialis in the TwinsUK cohort

Previous literature supports controversial results about the role of host genetic factors in the reactivation of Herpes Simplex Labialis (HSL). The objective of this study is to explore the association between different putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and self-reported HSL reactivation in the TwinsUK cohort.

1761 participant were recruited for this study from the TwinsUK register. Blood collection and HSL questionnaire were completed for a subset of 595 participants (age 61.9, dizygotic twins 62.8%). Blood was stored at -80 °C and DNA analysed from all samples. The potential associations between candidate SNPs and HSL were assessed using a set of 40 SNPs, including SNPs previously correlated with HSL disease and other SNPs previously associated with the oral microbiota.

235 participants reported to have experienced 'cold sores' at least once in their lives, and 160 reported reinfection episodes. No association was detected between rs243588, rs1047978, rs1062202 genotypes and both occurrence of cold sores (p = 0.172, p = 0.360, p = 0.742) and their recurrence (p = 0.160, p = 0.105,p = 0.746). Among other investigated SNPs, a nominal significant association was detected between Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Fok I (rs2228570) and both history of HSL (p = .001) and its recurrence (p = .007).

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the VDR gene may be correlated with cold sores and their recurrence.