title: Is herpes simplex virus associated with peptic ulcer disease?
abstract: To test the hypothesis that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) may be associated with peptic ulcer disease, we examined ulcerative lesions of the distal stomach and proximal duodenum for the presence of nucleic acids and antibodies specific for HSV-1. Utilizing in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction with sequencing, gastric or duodenal tissues from 4 of 22 patients (18%) with documented peptic ulcer disease demonstrated the presence of both specific HSV-1 nucleic acid sequences and proteins. HSV-1 was found restricted in clusters of cells near the margin of the ulcer but was absent at sites distal to the lesion. Several of such HSV-1-infected cells also contained cholecystokinin. These cholecystokinin-containing cells are of neuroendocrine origin and receive contact from the vagal nerve. Campylobacter pylori bacteria were not found in three of the four peptic ulcer tissues that harbored HSV-1. Further, none of the stomach or duodenal tissue samples from 33 patients undergoing clinical evaluation, but having no evidence of peptic ulcer disease, had HSV-1 materials. Thus, our data suggest that a subset of peptic ulcer disease may be associated with HSV-1 and raise the possibility that some peptic ulcers may be caused by this virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Neuropharmacology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Löhr
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oldstone
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes