文摘
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHVx2013;6) is one of many infectious agents that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Intrathecal immunoglobulin (Ig) production with oligoclonal CSF bands are hallmarks of both MS and infections of the CNS. In neuroinfections the intrathecal Ig production is directed largely against the respective agent, while MS patients mount an intrathecal Ig production against different pathogens. In this study a total of 77 serum/CSF pairs were first analyzed for an intrathecal immune response against HHVx2013;6. We found that 21 % of the MS patients, but none of the control donors showed an intrathecal immunoglobulin (Ig) response against HHVx2013;6 (p = 0.017). Patients with such an intrathecal Ig production had a significantly higher total amount of Ig (p = 0.007) and a higher cell number in the CSF (p = 0.03). In a second step, four of the MSx2013;patients who showed a strong intrathecal Ig production against HHVx2013;6 were examined for immune reactivity against other viruses (human herpesvirus type 1, measles virus, human cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, varicella zoster virus). All of these patients had an intrathecal Ig production against at least one other, unrelated virus. Together, our findings strongly argue that in the majority of MS patients without an intrathecal Ig response to HHVx2013;6 (about 80 % in our study), this virus is not involved in the pathogenesis. In the other 20 % the intrathecal Ig production to HHVx2013;6 might reflect reactivation of HHVx2013;6 or could be part of a polyspecific B cell activation.