Cold sores? Blame your genes!

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is most commonly known for cold sores. At the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, HSV-1 was studied to find which genes were responsible for producing the protein that prevents the virus from becoming active. After determining the protein, a study was conducted with twenty blood samples of people with cold sores. It was found that IL28B was mutating more frequently in people with cold sores. The disadvantage of IL28B is that it leaves the body’s immune system vulnerable to fight sores. IL28B contributes to 20% of people who regularly get cold sores, they can treat the sore with “acyclovir.”  If herpes simplex type 1 goes untreated it can cause severe conditions like infections in the eyes, brain and the genital tract. This is were further treatment involving IL28B might be used to help the minority, whose genes are more susceptible to HSV-1.

No More Cold Sores?

In the article “Research May Point to Treatment of ColdSores” written by Douglas Quenqua in the New York Times, he states that there may be a treatment for cold sores. About 20% of people get regular cold sores, which may be genetic. Herpes simple virus type 1, which is cold sore, is very common, affecting almost 9 out of 10 people. But just because people have the virus does not mean they get cold sores often or at all. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found genes that contained proteins that prevented the virus, but one was mutated and caused people to develop the sores. The gene was called IL28B and it did not produce the protein to stop sores from forming. With this information, the possible treatment is acyclovir, which could also treat other infections that are caused by the virus, but not for infections of brain, eyes, and genitals when very severe.

This research is very helpful because many people suffer from cold sores, although it is not a life or death situation, but it is a common thing that people have to deal with on a daily basis that could potentially be treated. The only thing I have known that help cold sores is Abreva, which some say do not work for them. Acyclovir can also treat eczema, which is a form of herpes. If this treatment does work, it could potentially lead to finding treatment from the more severe infections that were mentioned, such as the brain, eyes, and genitals. Acyclovir can only stop the spread of the virus, it is not a cure. So, this treatment could lead to a cure for all of the herpes viruses. 

Cold Sore Linked to Mutation in Gene

According a study from the University of Edinburgh, cold sores occur in people who have a gene mutation that does not allow their immune systems to prevent them.  Eighty to ninety percent of people have herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1), which causes cold sores; however, only approximately 25% of them have frequent outbreaks.  In the blood samples of those who had cold sore outbreaks, there was a mutated IL28b gene. Furthermore, the gene is associated with hepatitis C treatment responses.  Patients who have the mutated gene do not respond to treatment well.  As a result, a single mutated gene can be associated with more than on virus.
















Certainly, it is interesting that many people are somewhat predisposed to have cold sores.  Studies, such as this, help people to understand body processes.  Also, this help to educate people about what viruses are common in the population.

Link to article

Gene is first linked to herpes-related cold sores

In the article the first gene associated with frequent herpes-related cold sores was discovered by a team of researchers from University of Utah and the University of Massachusetts. Seventy percent of the US population is affected by herpes simplex type one. Once one is infected by the herpes he/she can no longer get rid of it, but the herpes subsides and lies dormant in the nerve cells till it is reactivated. The common side affect from herpes is a cold sore. Cold sore outbreaks are very unpredictable after being diagnosed with HSV-1. These medical researchers believed three reasons have contributed to HSV-1: the virus itself, environmental factors and genetic susceptibility. John D. Kriesel, M.D., research associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Utah School of Medicine and first author on the study stated, "The goal of our investigation was to define genes linked to cold sore frequency." After their investigation they found 21 chromosomes containing six genes linked to HSL (Herpes simplex labialis). Two methods, linkage analysis and transmission disequilibrium testing, were used to figure if there was truly a genetic connection between DNA sequence variation and frequent cold sores.