The Role of the Complement System in Herpetic Stromal Keratitis Caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and functional activity of the complement cascade in tears in inflammation caused by the herpes simplex virus. The object of the study was 48 tear fluid samples taken from 48 children (25 girls, 23 boys) aged 10 to 17 years (average age 13.1±2.2 years). The control group consisted of lacrimal fluid samples from 9 children without eye pathology. In lacrimal fluid samples, the content of complement components (C3, C4, and C5) was determined in lacrimal fluid samples obtained from healthy people and from patients with inflammation caused by the herpes simplex virus by the immune enzyme method. In children with herpetic stromal keratitis caused by the herpes simplex virus, changes in the concentration of complement components C3, C4 and C5a in the lacrimal fluid were noted, which can cause frequent intraoral infection of the herpes simplex virus and activate immune cells in the corneal epithelial cells with the release of anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a.