title: Prevalence of human herpesvirus U94/REP antibodies and DNA in Tunisian multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been linked to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on antibody detection and quantitative HHV-6 polymerase chain reaction assay, this study aimed to analyze the possible association between infection with HHV-6 and MS. A total of 131 serum samples were analyzed by ELISA for the presence of specific antibodies to HHV-6 latency-associated U94/REP protein: 68 serum samples from 60 MS patients (20 in relapse and 48 in remission phase) and 63 serum samples from 63 healthy controls. Real-time quantitative PCR for HHV-6 U94/rep DNA was also performed in total blood of MS patients and healthy controls. The serological analysis by ELISA showed that MS patients had increased prevalence and titers of anti-U94/REP immunoglobulins in comparison with control group (seroprevalence 51.47 % versus 28.57 % and mean titer of positive samples 1:248 versus 1:110; p=0.0005), with significant difference between relapse and remission phases. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 4 of 60 MS patients (6.66 %) and in 2 of 63 healthy controls (3.17 %), confirming previous data of prevalence obtained by qualitative nested PCR. However, viral load was higher in MS patients compared to controls, and differences were statistically significant (p=0.02). The results show that, in spite of the low presence of HHV-6 DNA in peripheral blood, MS patients have increased prevalence and titer of IgGs reacting with HHV-6 latency-associated U94/REP protein.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biological Active substances, LR99-ES27, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Avicenne street 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. benfredj_nadia@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben-Fredj
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ben-Selma
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotola
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nefzi
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Mahbouba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frih-Ayed
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Mahjoub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aouni
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caselli
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G