CD46 expression and HHV-6 infection in patients with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 120; no. 4; pp. 246 - 250
• Main Authors: Alvarez-Lafuente, R., Garcia-Montojo, M., De Las Heras, V., Dominguez-Mozo, M. I., Bartolome, M., Arroyo, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-10-2009; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; CD46; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Female; Herpesvirus 6, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 6, Human - isolation & purification; HHV-6; Human herpesvirus 6; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Cofactor Protein - metabolism; Middle Aged; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - blood; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; quantitative PCR; Roseolovirus Infections - blood; Roseolovirus Infections - complications; Serum - virology; Viral Load; Young Adult; Human; Infection; Polymerase chain reaction; Nervous system diseases; Multiple sclerosis; quantitative PCR; Central nervous system disease; HHV-6; CD46; Inflammatory disease
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01163.x

Objectives –  The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between the levels of the CD46 expression, and the presence and viral load of HHV‐6 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods –  We collected blood and serum samples of 103 patients with MS and the same number of healthy blood donors (HBD); total DNA and RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum, and then analyzed using quantitative real‐time PCR for the detection of CD46 transcripts and HHV‐6 genomes; the expression of rRNA18s was used for the calculation of the relative expression of CD46.
Results –  Almost 80% of patients with MS had increased levels of CD46 in comparison with HBD, and a positive correlation was also found between the over‐expression of CD46 in patients with MS and the HHV‐6 DNA prevalence and viral load in the blood and serum.
Discussion –  Therefore, the up‐regulation of CD46 expression in patients with MS with HHV‐6 infection could constitute an immunopathogenic factor that should be further investigated to elucidate its role in MS.