Parvovirus B19 infection associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in adults.
OBJECTIVE
Parvovirus B19 is a common human pathogen, which has been linked to autoimmune diseases recently. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether B19 is involved in adult Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).


METHODS
Eighty-six thyroid tissues from the adult patients with a spectrum of thyroid disorders were examined for B19 DNA and capsid protein by nested PCR, in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The presence of viral DNA in HT epithelium was studied by laser-capture microdissection and sequencing of PCR products. The expressions of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and interleukin-6 were investigated by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
B19 DNA was significantly present in HT tissues by both PCR (29/32, 90.6%) and in-situ hybridization (23/32, 71.9%, all p < 0.01) compared with normal thyroid tissue (7/16, 43.8%; 2/16, 12.5%). Laser-capture microdissection further confirmed this difference. B19 capsid protein in HT group was significantly higher than that in all the control groups (p < 0.01), and the expression of NF-kappaB and interleukin-6 in HT tissues was up-regulated. NF-kappaB was well co-localized with B19 protein in thyroid epithelia by double-labeling immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of B19 nuclear acid and viral protein was significantly common in HT tissues and it suggested a possible role of B19 in adult HT.
State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 17, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, PR China.
Juanhong
J
Wang
Weiping
W
Zhang
Hongxiang
H
Liu
Di
D
Wang
Wenqing
W
Wang
Yuanfei
Y
Li
Zhe
Z
Wang
Lu
L
Wang
Wei
W
Zhang
Gaosheng
G
Huang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B