title: The association of the human herpesvirus-6 and MS.
abstract: Given the clinical and pathological nature of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a viral infection has long been hypothesized as part of the etiology. In this study we investigated the possibility that the human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is present in a dormant or active phase in the tissue of MS patients, specifically oligodendrocytes. Using PCR assays of MS and non-MS brain sections with primers prepared against the HHV-6 structural protein 101, the results demonstrated that 36% of MS brains were positive for the virus, while 13.5% of non-MS brains were positive. Antibody to the HHV-6 structural protein was also used in immunohistochemical experiments in brain tissue. 47% (7/15) of MS brains were positive for HHV-6, whereas 0/16 controls were positive. In addition, MS patients demonstrated high immune reactivity to this virus, even when compared to auto-immune diseases, which might cause polyclonal activation. Sera obtained from MS and control patients revealed that the IgM response to the HHV-6 virus was significantly elevated in 80% patients compared to 16% non-MS controls, P<.001. The above experiments strongly suggest that a significant number of MS brain samples contain HHV-6 antigens and genomic fragments in a dormant or active phase compared to control specimens and that MS patients mount a brisk, early IgM response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, NYU Medical Center, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cu
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Ablashl
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskiniemi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaheri
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zabriskie
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002102:Cadaver; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012016:Reference Values; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C082253:101K protein, Human herpesvirus 6; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014764:Viral Proteins