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.
Wang
Juanhong
J
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.
Zhang
Weiping
W
Liu
Hongxiang
H
Wang
Di
D
Wang
Wenqing
W
Li
Yuanfei
Y
Wang
Zhe
Z
Wang
Lu
L
Zhang
Wei
W
Huang
Gaosheng
G
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