Viruses and multiple sclerosis.
Animal models illustrate how viruses and host genetic factors may interact to cause immune-mediated demyelination. Similar mechanisms may take place in at least some forms of multiple sclerosis, a disease that is histopathologically heterogeneous. No 'multiple sclerosis virus' has been found yet, although recent data on human herpesvirus-6 antigens in multiple sclerosis brain warrant further investigation. Multiple sclerosis associated retrovirus, a recently described retroviral sequence isolated from multiple sclerosis material, is a member of the endogenous retrovirus-9 family. The association between the expression of this virus associated retrovirus and multiple sclerosis is only tentative.
Monteyne
P
P
Institut Pasteur, Unité des Virus Lents, ERS 572 CNRS, Paris, France.
Bureau
J F
JF
Brahic
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification