title: Brief presence of varicella-zoster vral DNA in mononuclear cells during relapses of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A possible viral cause for multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been suspected. A progressive increase in MS has been reported in Mexico during the past 20 years; a conspicuous antecedent of varicella infection during childhood has been the most relevant finding in the medical history of patients with MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible participation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the etiopathogenesis of MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for VZV DNA in peripheral mononuclear cells of 82 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Additionally, genes gD from herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 were sought by PCR, as well as IgG and IgM serum antibodies to VZV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral DNA from the genes open reading frame (ORF)31, ORF62, ORF63, and ORF67 of VZV was found in mononuclear cells from 13 (87%) of 15 patients with MS who were tested during acute relapse. All patients who were tested during remission (n = 67) were negative for the DNA, including patients who were initially positive and were tested again after 2 months of remission. All control patients with a comprehensive variety of neurologic diseases (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 20) also tested negative. All subjects were negative for herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 DNA, and no differences were found in serum antibodies to VZV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of genes of VZV in peripheral mononuclear cells, restricted to a brief period during clinical relapse of MS, suggests either its participation in the etiopathogenesis of MS or an epiphenomenon of viral activation simultaneous with the relapse of MS.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Mexico City.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Navarrete
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotelo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins