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Isolation of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) from patients with collagen vascular diseases
G R Krueger1, C Sander, A Hoffmann
1Immunopathology Laboratory, University of Cologne, F.R.G.
Insights
Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) reactivation is common in patients with collagen vascular diseases (CVD), particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study highlights the frequent presence of active HHV-6 infections in CVD patients, suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Collagen vascular diseases (CVD) encompass conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- The role of viral infections, such as human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), in the pathogenesis and reactivation of CVD is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and activity of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in patients diagnosed with collagen vascular diseases (CVD).
- To investigate the potential association between HHV-6 infection and the clinical presentation of CVD.
Main Methods:
- Serological screening (IFA and ELISA) for antibodies against HHV-6, EBV, and CMV in 150 CVD patients.
- Virus isolation attempts from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 25 individuals using tissue culture, IFA, in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Antibody titers indicating active HHV-6 infection were found in 55% of SLE patients, 6.5% of RA patients, and 100% of patients with Sharp's syndrome or atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation (APL).
- Virus cultures were positive in 9 out of 25 attempts, with stable virus lines established from patients with SLE, RA, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), APL, and one healthy control.
Conclusions:
- Reactivated and chronic active HHV-6 infections are frequent in SLE patients, similar to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in RA patients.
- The precise role of HHV-6 and other herpesviruses in the pathogenesis and reactivation of CVD requires further investigation.
Abstract:
The prevalence and activity of human herpesvirus-6 in patients with collagen vascular diseases (CVD) was determined. One hundred and fifty patients with CVD (56 with systemic lupus erythematosus-SLE, 92 with rheumatoid arthritis-RA, 1 with Sharp's syndrome and 1 with atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation-APL and rheumatoid features) were screened serologically (IFA and ELISA) for antibodies against human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Virus isolation was attempted from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 25 persons with various disorders. PBL were grown in tissue culture and tested with standard HHV-6-positive antisera for viral antigen expression. Supernatants of the patient's lymphocyte cultures were used to infect HSB2 cells, and virus infection in these cells was proven by IFA, in situ hybridization and by electron microscopy. Fifty-five percent of the SLE patients, 6.5% of the RA patients and both patients with Sharp's syndrome or with APL had antibody titers indicative of active HHV-6 infection. Virus cultures were positive in 9 of the 25 attempts with establishment of stable virus lines. These patients were 5 with SLE or UCVD, and one each with RA, CFS, APL as well as one healthy control. Reactivated and chronic active HHV-6 infections are frequent in SLE like EBV in RA. The role of these viruses in the pathogenesis of the diseases or in their reactivation still needs further investigation.