title: Detection of antibodies directed against human herpesvirus 6 U94/REP in sera of patients affected by multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The association between human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and multiple sclerosis (MS) is controversial. In fact, it is difficult to establish a causative role of HHV-6, due to the high prevalence of latently infected individuals in the healthy population. Therefore, the presence of virus sequences in tissue biopsy does not support a viral role, and serological assays do not show significant differences between MS patients and control populations. The only viral gene expressed during latency is U94/rep. Therefore, we have developed a serological assay for the detection of antibodies specifically directed against U94/REP protein. Different populations were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, including healthy controls, MS patients, and subjects with diseases unrelated to HHV-6 infection, including other neurological diseases. The results show statistically significant differences (P > 0.01) between MS patients and control groups, both in antibody prevalence (87 and 43.9%, respectively) and in geometric mean titer (1:515 and 1:190, respectively). The detection of antibodies specific for HHV-6 U94/REP shows that the immune system is exposed to this antigen during natural infection. The higher prevalence and higher titers of antibodies to U94/REP suggest that MS patients and control groups might experience different exposures to HHV-6.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine. Section of Neurology, Department of Medical Surgical, Communication and Behavioral Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotola
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cermelli
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000821:virology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins