Comparison of the levels of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA and cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of children with HHV-6 encephalopathy.
Primary human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection is a common cause of acute sporadic encephalopathy in Japanese children. Occasionally, HHV-6 is not detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with encephalopathy, for example, in those with focal viral encephalitis, such as herpes simplex viral encephalitis. This indicates that HHV-6 encephalopathy is caused by an indirect mechanism, although this is not fully understood. HHV-6 DNA, cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p70, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were quantitated in both the CSF and serum of 13 patients with HHV-6 encephalopathy during the acute phase of the disease. HHV-6 DNA was detected in the CSF of seven patients with HHV-6 encephalopathy. The viral DNA concentration was significantly higher in serum than in CSF (mean 1.64 x 10(4) vs. 5.70 x 10(1) copies/ml; P = 0.003). The lack or low level of viral DNA in the CSF samples suggests that direct invasion of the central nervous system by HHV-6 is not the main cause of encephalopathy. Additionally, the IL-10 concentration was significantly higher in serum than in CSF (P < 0.001), whereas there was no significant difference in IL-6 levels between the CSF and serum samples. Interestingly, the IL-8 concentration was significantly higher in CSF than in serum (P = 0.038). The distribution of these cytokines differed between CSF and serum. The high CSF concentration of IL-8 could play an important role in the pathogenesis of encephalopathy.
Kawabe
Shinji
S
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
Ito
Yoshinori
Y
Ohta
Rieko
R
Sofue
Ayako
A
Gotoh
Kensei
K
Morishima
Tsuneo
T
Kimura
Hiroshi
H
D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9