Detection of human herpesviruses and polyomaviruses DNA in a group of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple

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Detection of the Genome and Transcripts of a Persistent DNA Virus in Neuronal Tissues by Fluorescent In situ Hybridization Combined with Immunostaining
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Detection of the Genome and Transcripts of a Persistent DNA Virus in Neuronal Tissues by Fluorescent In situ Hybridization Combined with Immunostaining

Published on: January 23, 2014

Valeria Pietropaolo1, Daniela Fioriti, Monica Mischitelli

  • 1Department of Public Health Sciences, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. valeria.pietropaolo@uniroma1.it

The New Microbiologica
|October 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Human herpesviruses (HHV-1 and HHV-8) were detected in nearly 30% of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, suggesting a potential role for these viruses in MS pathogenesis and demyelination.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Virology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system inflammatory disease characterized by demyelination and oligodendrocyte loss.
  • Several risk factors are linked to MS susceptibility, with a focus on viral associations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of specific viral genomic DNA in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
  • To explore the potential role of Human Herpesviruses (HHV-1, HHV-8), BK polyomavirus (BKV), and John Cunningham virus (JCV) in MS.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to detect viral genomic DNA.
  • Samples analyzed included urine and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 44 RRMS patients.

Main Results:

  • No viral DNA was detected in any urine samples.
  • Viral DNA was identified in 29.5% of RRMS PBMC samples.
  • Human herpesviruses (HHV-1 and HHV-8) were consistently found in all positive PBMC samples.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that viral agents, particularly HHV-1 and HHV-8, may contribute to the development of demyelination plaques in MS.
  • These viruses are implicated as potential causative factors in MS pathogenesis.

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