[Endogenous retroviruses in multiple sclerosis].
BACKGROUND
In recent years, it has been suggested that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) may play a role in autoimmune diseases. HERVs represent both putative susceptibility genes and putative pathogenic viruses in multiple sclerosis (MS). Initially, our objective was to characterize a retrovirus produced by MS derived cell lines and to investigate this association in vivo.


METHODS
The retrovirus was identified by RT-PCR on virion RNA purified from RT-positive retroviral particles from the MS cell lines, and from blood samples from MS patients. Wistar rats were immunized with purified virions and serological responses analyzed by ELISA.


RESULTS
Sequence variants highly homologous to the HERV-H family were found. The same sequences were specifically found in the particulate fraction of a series of MS patient plasma samples and were absent in controls. A database search demonstrated HERV-H copies in several chromosome regions implied in MS susceptibility. Virion-immunized rats developed a specific serological response towards HERV-H peptides indicating that immunogenic virion proteins are encoded by HERV-H.


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of normally replicatively quiescent HERVs may be causally involved in MS.
Christensen
T
T
Institut for Medicinsk Mikrobiologi & Immunologi, Bioteknologisk Institut, Hørsholm, Aarhus Universitet. tc@microbiology.au.dk
Sørensen
P D
PD
Hansen
H J
HJ
Møller-Larsen
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D012367:RNA, Viral
Undersøgelse af endogene retrovirus i multipel sklerose.