Human herpesvirus 6 genome and antigen in acute multiple sclerosis lesions.
Evidence for a candidate multiple sclerosis (MS) virus, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), was sought in biopsy specimens of acute lesions that presented clinically as cerebral tumors obtained from 5 patients. Histopathology, magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical course confirmed the diagnosis of MS in each case. A sensitive in situ polymerase chain reaction (ISPCR) method was used to detect HHV-6 genome, in conjunction with immunocytochemical staining (ICC) to detect viral and cellular antigens. ISPCR revealed numerous oligodendrocytes, lymphocytes, and microglia containing HHV-6 genome within all lesions, whereas ICC showed only the HHV-6 glycoprotein 116 antigen in some reactive astrocytes and microglia. High frequencies of neuroglial and inflammatory cells containing HHV-6 genome were present in acute-phase lesion tissue from patients who were free of the effects of chronic MS and had not been received immunomodulatory therapy for MS. The prevalence of HHV-6 genome-containing cells, including oligodendrocytes, in each lesion suggests that HHV-6 plays a role in the demyelinative pathogenesis of MS; the significance of the discrepant expression of viral antigens remains uncertain.
Goodman
Andrew D
AD
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. andrew_goodman@urmc.rochester.edu
Mock
David J
DJ
Powers
James M
JM
Baker
Jeffrey V
JV
Blumberg
Benjamin M
BM
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D000956:Antigens, Viral