Varicella-zoster virus DNA in cells isolated from human trigeminal ganglia.
To determine the type of cell(s) that contain latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA, we prepared pure populations of neurons and satellite cells from trigeminal ganglia of 18 humans who had previously had a VZV infection. VZV DNA was present in 34 of 2,226 neurons (1.5%) and in none of 20,700 satellite cells. There was an average of 4.7 (range of 2 to 9) copies of VZV DNA per latently infected neuron. Latent VZV DNA was primarily present in large neurons, whereas the size distribution of herpes simplex virus DNA was markedly different.
Levin
Myron J
MJ
Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. myron.levin@uchsc.edu
Cai
Guang-Yun
GY
Manchak
Michael D
MD
Pizer
Lewis I
LI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D017735:Virus Latency
D004279:DNA, Viral