Immunohistological detection of human herpes virus 6 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissues.
Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) infection is widespread in healthy individuals. The only definite disease association is with exanthem subitum in infants though the virus has been linked with a variety of other diseases including interstitial pneumonitis in bone marrow allograft recipients. In order to investigate the role of HHV-6 in the latter disease we have developed an optimised staining method for the demonstration of specific antigen in routinely processed post-mortem tissues. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissue from 8 immunocompromised patients who died from interstitial pneumonitis was subjected to immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies against HHV-6, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and adenovirus, using a modified avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. Staining for HHV-6 was obtained in 6 of the 8 patients studied and was present in pneumocytes and macrophages. CMV and adenovirus antigens were identified in 4 and 6 patients, respectively. Whilst the lung tissue of 6 patients contained more than one virus, there was no evidence of cross-reactivity between the monoclonal antibodies. We demonstrated that accurate localisation of HHV-6 using monoclonal antibodies is possible in post-mortem lung tissue and conclude that either HHV-6 alone or in combination with other viruses may play a role in the development of interstitial pneumonitis following bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy.
Pitalia
A K
AK
Department of Pathological Sciences, Medical School, University of Manchester, U.K.
Liu-Yin
J A
JA
Freemont
A J
AJ
Morris
D J
DJ
Fitzmaurice
R J
RJ
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000382:microbiology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation
D005557:Formaldehyde