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No evidence of persistent mumps virus infection in inflammatory bowel disease
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan. iizuka@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Background And Aim:
There is controversy regarding whether paramyxovirus infection is causally associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The latest cohort study claimed that atypical measles and mumps infections in childhood may be risk factors for later IBD. This study was conducted to clarify the validity of a causal link between persistent mumps virus infection and IBD.
Subjects And Methods:
(1) Amplification of the mumps virus genome was performed in both intestinal specimens (ulcerative colitis 15, Crohn's disease 15, control 10) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (ulcerative colitis seven, Crohn's disease six, control three) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern hybridisation using primers specific to the viral genome encoding phosphoprotein or haemagglutinin-neuraminidase. (2) Titre of serum antimumps IgG was measured in 16 patients with ulcerative colitis, in 16 patients with Crohn's disease, and in 16 normal controls using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
(1) The mumps virus genome was not detected by RT-PCR in intestinal specimens or PBL in any case. (2) Antimumps IgG titre was positive in 7/16 ulcerative colitis, 10/16 Crohn's disease, and 11/16 control specimens. The mean (SEM) titre of antimumps IgG was 12.281 (7.831) in ulcerative colitis, 7.675 (1.608) in Crohn's disease, and 8.637 (1.969) in controls, with no significant difference between the three groups.
Conclusion:
We could not find any evidence to support a causal link between persistent mumps virus infection and IBD.
Insights
This study found no evidence linking persistent mumps virus infection to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mumps virus RNA was not detected in patient samples, and antibody levels did not differ significantly between IBD patients and controls.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Controversy exists regarding paramyxovirus involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- A recent study suggested childhood measles and mumps infections as potential risk factors for IBD.
- This research aimed to investigate a potential causal relationship between persistent mumps virus infection and IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if persistent mumps virus infection is causally linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- To analyze the presence of mumps virus in intestinal tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes of IBD patients.
- To assess serum antibody titers against mumps virus in IBD patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- Mumps virus genome detection in intestinal specimens and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern hybridization.
- Quantification of serum anti-mumps IgG antibody titers via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- The mumps virus genome was not detected in any intestinal specimens or PBL samples from IBD patients or controls.
- Anti-mumps IgG antibody titers showed no significant differences between patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and the control group.
- Positive IgG titers were observed in 7/16 ulcerative colitis, 10/16 Crohn's disease, and 11/16 control subjects.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence to support a causal association between persistent mumps virus infection and the development of IBD.
- The absence of detectable mumps virus in affected tissues and the lack of significant antibody differences suggest mumps virus is not a causative agent for IBD.
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