HHV-6 infection accelerates EAE in the common marmoset

Thursday, October 11, 2012 — Poster Session IV
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NINDS	INFLAM-3

Authors

• E.C. Leibovitch
• P. Maggi
• S.M Cummings Macri
• G. Brunetto
• K.M. Motanic
• J.E. Wohler
• S. Westmoreland
• A. Silva
• D.S. Reich
• S. Jacobson

Abstract

The ubiquitous human herpesvirus 6A (HHV6A) is associated with several neurologic diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated HHV6A infection in common marmosets (C.jacchus). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS induced by immunization with CNS tissue, such as white matter homogenate (WMH). As viruses may act as triggers in MS, we asked if marmosets previously inoculated with HHV6A exhibit an altered EAE disease course compared to previously naïve marmosets. WMH+virus marmosets exhibited clinical symptoms earlier than WMH alone marmosets. WMH+virus marmosets also exhibited more severe disease by MRI, with increased white matter lesion load and leukocortical lesions in the brain. We detected increased serum IgG against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), an immunogenic myelin protein, in WMH+virus marmosets compared to WMH alone marmosets. Following HHV6A intranasal infection, virus-specific antibodies were not detected but upon EAE induction, virus-specific IgM was detected in one WMH+virus marmoset. Immunohistochemical analyses of CNS tissues, detection of viral DNA from CNS tissues and cellular immune responses to HHV6 and MOG are underway. These observations support a role for viruses in exacerbating CNS immunopathology and may further our understanding of the longstanding association between viruses and MS.

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