Kuusisto H, Hyöty H, Kares S, Kinnunen E, Elovaara I
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Mult Scler. 2008 Jan;14(1):54-8. doi: 10.1177/1352458507080063. Epub 2007 Sep 24.
To investigate the possible association of human herpes virus 6- (HHV6) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Despite intensive investigations of genetic and environmental factors, the etiopathogenesis of MS remains unknown. HHV6 is a possible candidate in that it is neurotropic, able to induce demyelination and become latent and be reactivated. We had access to The Finnish National Twin Cohort, which provided a unique opportunity to study the association between HHV6 and MS in genetically homogenous patients.
Thirty-four serum samples from 17 MS twin pairs and 12 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from six MS twin pairs were tested by PCR specific for HHV6. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M response against HHV6 in serum and CSF were analysed using ELISA method. The samples were collected during a remission of the disease.
No HHV6 DNA was found in any serum (n=34) or CSF (n=12) samples. Eighty-eight percent of the twins with MS and 86% of the healthy twin siblings were positive for IgG in serum. One twin with MS was also positive for IgM in serum, whereas none of the healthy twins was IgM positive. All CSF samples were negative for IgG and IgM in both groups.
During a clinical remission of MS the detection of antibodies against HHV6 in CSF and HHV6 DNA in serum, CSF supernatant or CSF leukocytes is unlikely. However, the results do not exclude a possibility of HHV6 reactivation during MS exacerbation or acute HHV6 infection being one of the triggering agents in development of MS long before its clinical manifestation.
研究人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV6）感染与多发性硬化症（MS）之间可能存在的关联。
尽管对遗传和环境因素进行了深入研究，但MS的病因发病机制仍不清楚。HHV6是一个可能的候选因素，因为它具有嗜神经性，能够诱导脱髓鞘，并且能够潜伏并重新激活。我们可以利用芬兰国家双胞胎队列，这为研究基因同质患者中HHV6与MS之间的关联提供了独特的机会。
采用针对HHV6的PCR方法检测17对MS双胞胎的34份血清样本和6对MS双胞胎的12份脑脊液（CSF）样本。使用ELISA方法分析血清和CSF中针对HHV6的免疫球蛋白（Ig）G和M反应。样本在疾病缓解期采集。
在任何血清（n = 34）或CSF（n = 12）样本中均未发现HHV6 DNA。88%的MS双胞胎和86%的健康双胞胎兄弟姐妹血清IgG呈阳性。一名MS双胞胎血清IgM也呈阳性，而健康双胞胎中无人IgM呈阳性。两组所有CSF样本的IgG和IgM均为阴性。
在MS临床缓解期，在CSF中检测针对HHV6的抗体以及在血清、CSF上清液或CSF白细胞中检测HHV6 DNA的可能性不大。然而，这些结果并不排除在MS病情加重期间HHV6重新激活或急性HHV6感染在MS临床表现出现很久以前是其发病触发因素之一的可能性。
