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Measles virus prevalence in otosclerotic stapes footplate samples
Tamás Karosi1, József Kónya, László Z Szabó
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical School of Debrecen, Hungary.
Hypothesis:
The cause of otosclerosis is still unknown. Persistent measles virus infection of the otic capsule is supposed to be one of the etiologic factors in otosclerosis. Chronic viral antigen expression on the surface of infected cells can induce a secondary autoimmune reaction against the otic capsule.
Background:
In the past 15 years, some reports proposed the possible etiologic role of measles virus in otosclerosis. The presence of measles virus was shown in otosclerotic patients by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification of the viral RNA, detecting the viral proteins by immunohistochemistry and detecting antimeasles immunoglobulin G in the perilymph samples. Many concerns were elicited by these results.
Methods:
Nucleic acid was extracted from pulverized, frozen stapes footplate samples of otosclerotic patients. Measles virus RNA was amplified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction: reverse transcription and the first round polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed by heat stable recombinant Thermus thermophilus polymerase, whereas in the nested round, polymerase chain reaction Taq-polymerase was used. Measles virus nucleoprotein RNA-specific oligonucleotide primers were used in these reactions. An Edmonston-type measles virus served as a positive control and cortical bone fragments or stapes superstructures served as negative controls.
Results:
Among 34 otosclerotic patients, 20 stapes footplate samples contained measles virus RNA. Measles virus RNA was not detected in other bone specimens of the patients.
Conclusion:
The etiologic role of measles virus in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis should be considered. The 14 negative samples may be genetically determined otosclerotic cases.
Insights
Measles virus RNA was detected in the stapes footplate of 20 out of 34 otosclerosis patients, suggesting a potential role for measles virus in otosclerosis development.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Otosclerosis etiology remains unknown.
- Measles virus has been implicated in otosclerosis pathogenesis.
- Previous studies detected measles virus in otosclerotic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of measles virus RNA in otosclerotic stapes footplate samples.
- To explore the potential role of measles virus in otosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Nucleic acid extraction from otosclerotic stapes footplate samples.
- Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for measles virus RNA amplification.
- Use of measles virus nucleoprotein RNA-specific primers.
Main Results:
- Measles virus RNA was detected in 20 of 34 otosclerotic stapes footplate samples.
- Measles virus RNA was not found in other bone specimens from the same patients.
- 14 samples tested negative for measles virus RNA.
Conclusions:
- The findings support considering measles virus in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis.
- Genetically determined factors may explain negative cases.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of measles virus.
