The evidence of human herpesvirus 6 infection in the lymph nodes of Hodgkin's disease.
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), the causative agent of exanthem subitum, has been implicated in other diseases. Recently HHV-6-specific sequences have been detected by Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction in the lymph nodes of three patients with Hodgkin's disease. The pathological localization of HHV-6, however, is still unknown. In order to study the pathological role of HHV-6 in Hodgkin's disease, we investigated, by immunohistochemical and molecular methods, two lymph node biopsies taken from a 7-year-old boy with Hodgkin's disease during the course of disease evolution. Although the histopathological findings of the first biopsy differed from those of the second, HHV-6 antigens and sequences could be detected in both lymph nodes by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. HHV-6 was localized in macrophages, predominantly in lymphoid follicles, but not in Reed-Sternberg cells. Antibody titres to HHV-6 were consistent with reactivation of latency. Neither cytomegalovirus nor Epstein-Barr virus was present. Our data suggest a role for HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease.
Maeda
A
A
Department of Pathology, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
Sata
T
T
Enzan
H
H
Tanaka
K
K
Wakiguchi
H
H
Kurashige
T
T
Yamanishi
K
K
Kurata
T
T
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral