Coxsackievirus B3 infection and its mutation in Keshan disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate coxsackievirus B(3) infection and its gene mutation in Keshan disease.


METHODS
The expression of Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA was detected in autopsy specimens of acute (12 cases), sub-acute (27 cases) and chronic (15 cases) Keshan disease by in situ hybridization. In sub-acute Keshan disease specimens, 3 cases with positive result by in situ hybridization were selected RT-PCR analysis. The DNA segments were then sequenced.


RESULTS
Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA was detected in the cytoplasm of myocardiocyte. The positive rate was 83% in acute, 67% in sub-acute and 80% in chronic Keshan disease. In the conservative region of Coxsackievirus B(3) genome, there was a mutation in 234 (C-T) compared to the non-cardiovirulent strain, CVB(3/0).


CONCLUSIONS
Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA can survive and replicate in heart muscle of Keshan disease, which may play an important role in the occurrence of Keshan disease. The possible mechanism of occurrence of Keshan disease is associated with point a mutation in Coxsackievirus B(3) genome.
Department of Pathology, Institute of Frontier Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. ligs@public.cc.jl.cn
Li-Qun
LQ
Ren
Xiang-Jun
XJ
Li
Guang-Sheng
GS
Li
Zhi-Tao
ZT
Zhao
Bo
B
Sun
Fei
F
Sun
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014774:Virulence
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral