title: Human herpesvirus-6 entry into the central nervous system through the olfactory pathway.
abstract: Viruses have been implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a neurotropic virus that has been associated with a wide variety of neurologic disorders, including encephalitis, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Currently, the route of HHV-6 entry into the CNS is unknown. Using autopsy specimens, we found that the frequency of HHV-6 DNA in the olfactory bulb/tract region was among the highest in the brain regions examined. Given this finding, we investigated whether HHV-6 may infect the CNS via the olfactory pathway. HHV-6 DNA was detected in a total of 52 of 126 (41.3%) nasal mucous samples, showing the nasal cavity is a reservoir for HHV-6. Furthermore, specialized olfactory-ensheathing glial cells located in the nasal cavity were demonstrated to support HHV-6 replication in vitro. Collectively, these results support HHV-6 utilization of the olfactory pathway as a route of entry into the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harberts
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jillian E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wohler
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maric
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohayon
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henkin
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000821:virology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000821:virology*; D053586:Virus Internalization; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral