title: Varicella zoster virus is not a disease-relevant antigen in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Herpesvirions and varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA were recently reported in all 15 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) obtained within 1 week of exacerbation. Using identical electron microscopic and polymerase chain reaction techniques, including additional primer sets representing different regions of the VZV genome, we found no herpesvirions or VZV DNA in MS CSF or acute MS plaques. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis demonstrated a higher titer of VZV antibody in MS CSF than in inflammatory control samples, recombinant antibodies prepared from clonally expanded MS CSF plasma cells did not bind to VZV. VZV is not a disease-relevant antigen in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. mark.burgoon@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Burgoon
authors.forename: Randall J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cohrs
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Sarah W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Alanna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cepok
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hemmer
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilden
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014771:Virion / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral