HSV-1 Enters Melanocytes and Induces their Apoptosis

Jing Lan, Yuxiao Hong, Ruiq

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) enters into the host and makes a disease. HSV-1 can infect many types of cells but epidermis is a target in which keratinocytes are the main attacked cells. Melanocytes are important components of the epidermis and have a close relationship with keratinocytes. Many studies are on “the effects of HSV-1 on keratinocytes”; less is known about the effects of HSV-1 on melanocytes. In this study, we treated murine Melan-A cell line with HSV-1 in vitro and draw a conclusion that HSV-1 can infect melanocytes and induce melanocytes apoptosis for the first time.