title: Human foamy virus bel1 sequence in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
abstract: Since the association between human foamy virus (HFV) with rheumatic autoimmune diseases remains controversial, this study was designed to determine the relationship between HFV and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The bel1 and Pol sequences of HFV were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in plasma and by PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with SLE, RA, and PSS. Antibodies against Bel1 and Pol were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Active HFV infections were detected by a Bel1-responsive indicator cell line. The bel1 sequence was detected in the plasma (SLE 59, RA 32, and PSS 63%) and PBMC (SLE 54, RA 71, and PSS 57%). However, active HFV infection existed only in patients with the bel1 sequence in both plasma and PBMC. In SLE patients, antibodies against Bel1 (7.1%) and Pol (4.5%) were also detected. The results suggest a possible association between HFV infection and these autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology in Medicine, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. khsun@ym.edu.tw
authors.forename: Kuang-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hsiao-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lee-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsiao-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Mei-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chi-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jung-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hsin-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wu-Tse
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D053150:Simian foamy virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C074061:bel1 protein, Human foamy virus