title: HLA-A(∗)02, gender and tobacco smoking, but not multiple sclerosis, affects the IgG antibody response against human herpesvirus 6.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease susceptibility and two viruses associated with MS are human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A and HHV-6B, together referred to as HHV-6. This study characterized the plasma IgG antibody response against HHV-6 in MS patients (n=446) and healthy controls (n=487), and the relationship between MS susceptibility factors and the anti-HHV-6 response was investigated. In addition, 134 samples were further investigated for IgG against the early HHV-6 antigen p41. Antibody levels were measured with ELISA. The overall seroprevalence against HHV-6 was 90%, with no significant difference in positivity or levels between MS patients and controls. Interestingly, carriership of HLA-A(∗)02 and tobacco smoking was associated with lower anti-HHV-6 IgG levels (p=0.0017 and p=0.026 respectively), whereas females sex was associated with higher levels (p=0.0090). No difference in IgG titers against p41 was observed between MS patients and controls. In conclusion, the IgG response against HHV-6 was associated with several factors that have previously been associated with MS susceptibility, possibly reflecting a relation between autoimmunity and how the immune system handles viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:00, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:00, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:00, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:04, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundqvist
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:04, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:00, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hillert
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alfredsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:04, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kockum
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Center for Molecular Medicine L8:00, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Anna.Fogdell-Hahn@ki.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fogdell-Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C524866:HLA-A*02 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014764:Viral Proteins; C081690:p41 protein, Human herpesvirus 6
keywords: HLA-A(∗)02; Human herpesvirus 6; IgG; Multiple sclerosis; p41