title: Investigating the presence of human herpesvirus 7 and 8 in multiple sclerosis and normal control brain tissue.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an important demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, the aetiology of which is thought to have a possible viral component. In this study we investigated the possible involvement in MS of two herpes viruses: the neurotropic human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) and the related human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Utilising fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) techniques, we examined human post mortem tissues for the presence of immediate early and late viral gene or protein expression in MS patient normal appearing white matter (NAWM), lesional tissue and normal control brain samples. HHV-7 and/or HHV-8 mRNA or protein was detected in some individuals in all three sample categories and was restricted to oligodendrocytes, as determined by double mRNA FISH analysis or immuno fluorescence (IF). No samples showed evidence of viral mRNA when subjected to RT-PCR on extracted ribonucleic acid. We therefore conclude that there is little evidence in our particular sample cohort to suggest involvement of either HHV-7 or HHV-8 in MS.
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Opsahl
authors.forename: Peter G E
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057167:Claudins; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D007211:Indoles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: C120453:CLDN11 protein, human; D057167:Claudins; D007211:Indoles; C571326:MOG protein, human; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C007293:DAPI