Brains and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients hyperexpress MS-associated retrovirus/HERV-W endogenous retrovirus, but not Human herpesvirus 6
Academic Article
Publication Date:
2007
Short description:
Brains and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients hyperexpress MS-associated retrovirus/HERV-W endogenous retrovirus, but not Human herpesvirus 6 / Mameli, G., Astone, V., Arru, G., Marconi, S., Lovato, L., Serra, C., Sotgiu, S., Bonetti, B., Dolei, A.. - In: JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY. - ISSN 0022-1317. - 88:(2007), pp. 264-274. [10.1099/vir.0.81890-0]
abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated retrovirus (MSRV)/HERV-W (human endogenous
retrovirus W) and Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) are the two most studied (and
discussed) viruses as environmental co-factors that trigger MS immunopathological
phenomena. Autopsied brain tissues from MS patients and controls and peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analysed. Quantitative RT-PCR and PCR with
primers specific for MSRV/HERV-W env and pol and HHV-6 U94/rep and DNA-pol were
used to determine virus copy numbers. Brain sections were immunostained with
HERV-W env-specific monoclonal antibody to detect the viral protein. All brains
expressed MSRV/HERV-W env and pol genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that
cerebral MSRV/HERV-W-related env sequences, plasmatic MSRV, HERV-W and ERVWE1
(syncytin) are related closely. Accumulation of MSRV/HERV-W-specific RNAs was
significantly greater in MS brains than in controls (P=0.014 vs healthy controls;
P=0.006 vs pathological controls). By immunohistochemistry, no HERV-W env protein
was detected in control brains, whereas it was upregulated within MS plaques and
correlated with the extent of active demyelination and inflammation. No
HHV-6-specific RNAs were detected in brains of MS patients; one healthy control
had latent HHV-6 and one pathological control had replicating HHV-6. At the PBMC
level, all MS patients expressed MSRV/HERV-W env at higher copy numbers than did
controls (P=0.00003). Similar HHV-6 presence was found in MS patients and healthy
individuals; only one MS patient had replicating HHV-6. This report, the first to
study both MSRV/HERV-W and HHV-6, indicates that MSRV/HERV-W is expressed
actively in human brain and activated strongly in MS patients, whilst there are
no significant differences between these MS patients and controls for HHV-6
presence/replication at the brain or PBMC level.
retrovirus W) and Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) are the two most studied (and
discussed) viruses as environmental co-factors that trigger MS immunopathological
phenomena. Autopsied brain tissues from MS patients and controls and peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analysed. Quantitative RT-PCR and PCR with
primers specific for MSRV/HERV-W env and pol and HHV-6 U94/rep and DNA-pol were
used to determine virus copy numbers. Brain sections were immunostained with
HERV-W env-specific monoclonal antibody to detect the viral protein. All brains
expressed MSRV/HERV-W env and pol genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that
cerebral MSRV/HERV-W-related env sequences, plasmatic MSRV, HERV-W and ERVWE1
(syncytin) are related closely. Accumulation of MSRV/HERV-W-specific RNAs was
significantly greater in MS brains than in controls (P=0.014 vs healthy controls;
P=0.006 vs pathological controls). By immunohistochemistry, no HERV-W env protein
was detected in control brains, whereas it was upregulated within MS plaques and
correlated with the extent of active demyelination and inflammation. No
HHV-6-specific RNAs were detected in brains of MS patients; one healthy control
had latent HHV-6 and one pathological control had replicating HHV-6. At the PBMC
level, all MS patients expressed MSRV/HERV-W env at higher copy numbers than did
controls (P=0.00003). Similar HHV-6 presence was found in MS patients and healthy
individuals; only one MS patient had replicating HHV-6. This report, the first to
study both MSRV/HERV-W and HHV-6, indicates that MSRV/HERV-W is expressed
actively in human brain and activated strongly in MS patients, whilst there are
no significant differences between these MS patients and controls for HHV-6
presence/replication at the brain or PBMC level.
Iris type:
1.1 Articolo in rivista
List of contributors:
Mameli, Giuseppe; Astone, V; Arru, Giannina; Marconi, S; Lovato, L; Serra, Caterina; Sotgiu, Stefano; Bonetti, B; Dolei, Antonina
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