Human retrovirus-5 proviral DNA is rarely detected in salivary gland biopsy tissues from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether human retrovirus-5 (HRV-5) infection is associated with Sjögren's syndrome.


METHODS
Salivary gland DNA was tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HRV-5 proviral DNA. Rigorous precautions were taken to prevent false-positive results from PCR contamination. Positive samples were confirmed by testing with an additional independent set of primers and were then sequenced.


RESULTS
Ninety-two samples were examined (55 from Sjögren's syndrome patients, 37 from non-Sjögren's syndrome patients), 2 of which were positive. One was from a patient who had sicca symptoms but who did not satisfy the criteria for a diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. The other was from a patient with secondary Sjögren's syndrome. Owing to the extremely low virus load in minor salivary glands, the number of HRV-5-infected patients may be underestimated. In total, 3 different sequences of HRV-5 were identified which were 98% identical to the original sequence but which displayed variations between and within individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to systematically seek a disease association with HRV-5, although with this method, an association with Sjögren's syndrome was not identified.
Rigby
S P
SP
The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, UK.
Griffiths
D J
DJ
Weiss
R A
RA
Venables
P J
PJ
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015751:Genes, pol; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology
D000596:Amino Acids; D004279:DNA, Viral