title: Serum antibodies from epileptic patients react, at high prevalence, with simian virus 40 mimotopes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been demonstrated that inflammation may contribute to epileptogenesis and cause neuronal injury in epilepsy. In this study, the prevalence of antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40), a kidney and neurotropic polyomavirus, was investigated in serum samples from 88 epileptic children/adolescents/young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum antibodies reacting to specific SV40 peptides were analysed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the epitopes of viral capsid proteins 1-3 were used as SV40 antigens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher prevalence of antibodies against SV40 was detected in sera from epileptic patients compared to controls (41% vs. 19%). Specifically, the highest significant difference was revealed in the cohort of patients from 1.1 to 10 years old (54% vs. 21%), with a peak in the sub-cohort of 3.1-6 years old (65% vs. 18%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our immunological data suggest a strong association between epilepsy and the SV40 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Pediatric Unit, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faggioli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borgna-Pignatti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corallini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turlà
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Taronna
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiumana
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: children; epilepsy; inflammation; simian virus 40