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Distribution and quantification of human herpesvirus 6 in multiple sclerosis and control brains

Centre for Virology, Department of Infection, Royal Free and University College Medical School of UCL, Hampstead Site, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK

S Hawke

CNS Infection and Immunity Group, Department of Neurogenetics, Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary’s, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK

P D Griffiths

Centre for Virology, Department of Infection, Royal Free and University College Medical School of UCL, Hampstead Site, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK

D A Clark

Centre for Virology, Department of Infection, Royal Free and University College Medical School of UCL, Hampstead Site, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK, d.clark{at}rfc.ucl.ac.uk

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be precipitated by environmental factors, potentially including viruses, in genetically susceptible individuals and recently human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been associated with the disease. We have analysed post mortem brain for the presence, variant type and quantity of HHV-6 by PCR. A total of 124 samples from seven anatomically defined regions of brain were tested from MS cases and controls. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 41% and 44% of MS case and control samples. The median viral loads were 11 and 9 genome copies/mg DNA in cases and controls respectively and the viral load was not increased in lesions. Except in one instance, the HHV-6 DNA detected was variant B. There was no apparent difference in the distribution of HHV-6 DNA in the brains of MS cases versus controls, nor between normal appearing and lesional tissue in MS cases. Periventricular regions of the brain were more frequently positive for HHV-6 DNA in both MS cases and controls, although this difference was not statistically significant. These studies confirm the neurotropism of HHV-6 but do not demonstrate differences in the distribution, variant type or quantity of HHV-6 in brains from patients with MS versus controls.

Key Words: brain • HHV-6 • human herpesvirus 6 • multiple sclerosis • PCR

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 355-359 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/1352458504ms1057oa


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