Search for an HTLV-I-like retrovirus in patients with MS by enzymatic DNA amplification

A retroviral etiology to MS has been sought for some time, so far reports of retroviral presence have not been confirmed by other groups. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 67 patients with MS and brain capillaries from six patients with MS. Enzymatic amplification by the polymerase chain reaction was conducted with ten primer sets homologous to highly conserved HTLV-I/HTLV-II genetic sequences at stringent and non-stringent annealing conditions. No HTLV I/II related DNA fragments were seen judging from hybridization to an HTLV-I probe, even at relaxed conditions. The present study does not support a role for a HTLV-I-like virus in MS.