Specific Herpes Simplex Virus Antigen in Human Gingiva

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) specific antigens were found to be present in the sulcular epithelial cells of patients that were undergoing periodontal treatment. Four out of 14 cases were positive to specific HSV-1 antigen, as demonstrated by the indirect immunofluorescent assay. No nuclear staining was seen in any epithelial cells. These observations seem to indicate that the viral genome resides in the sulcular epithelial cells of the gingiva and is possibly localized in the stratum granulosum and spinosum.