BACKGROUND: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have been repeatedly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Also, it has been speculated that, besides its immunomodulatory properties, the efficacy of interferon beta (IFN-beta) in treating the disease may be related to its antiviral properties. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo antiviral effect of IFN-beta-1b over HHV-6 and EBV and to analyze whether such effect could be involved in its effectiveness in MS. METHODS: A total of 54 patients with MS were included in an observational, multicentric, 24-month study. HHV-6 and EBV were detected by qPCR in blood and serum samples. IFN-beta-1b effectiveness was evaluated by presence, number and severity of relapses, reduction in the relapse rate, disability progression, and response to the treatment. RESULTS: Patients with HHV-6 in blood had a higher risk of severe relapses (P=0.01) and bad response (P=0.03). HHV-6 was detected more frequently during relapses than in remission in blood (P=0.024) and in serum (P=0.0002). Patients with HHV-6 in serum had more relapses (P=0.02), lesser reduction in the relapse rate (P=0.04), and a lower proportion of responders (P=0.02) than those without HHV-6 active replication. However, any association between EBV and clinical parameters could not be found. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that presence of HHV-6 in blood and serum during IFN-beta treatment could be a good marker of poor response.
BACKGROUND:Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have been repeatedly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Also, it has been speculated that, besides its immunomodulatory properties, the efficacy of interferon beta (IFN-beta) in treating the disease may be related to its antiviral properties. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo antiviral effect of IFN-beta-1b over HHV-6 and EBV and to analyze whether such effect could be involved in its effectiveness in MS. METHODS: A total of 54 patients with MS were included in an observational, multicentric, 24-month study. HHV-6 and EBV were detected by qPCR in blood and serum samples. IFN-beta-1b effectiveness was evaluated by presence, number and severity of relapses, reduction in the relapse rate, disability progression, and response to the treatment. RESULTS:Patients with HHV-6 in blood had a higher risk of severe relapses (P=0.01) and bad response (P=0.03). HHV-6 was detected more frequently during relapses than in remission in blood (P=0.024) and in serum (P=0.0002). Patients with HHV-6 in serum had more relapses (P=0.02), lesser reduction in the relapse rate (P=0.04), and a lower proportion of responders (P=0.02) than those without HHV-6 active replication. However, any association between EBV and clinical parameters could not be found. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that presence of HHV-6 in blood and serum during IFN-beta treatment could be a good marker of poor response.
Authors: Philip E Pellett; Dharam V Ablashi; Peter F Ambros; Henri Agut; Mary T Caserta; Vincent Descamps; Louis Flamand; Agnès Gautheret-Dejean; Caroline B Hall; Rammurti T Kamble; Uwe Kuehl; Dirk Lassner; Irmeli Lautenschlager; Kristin S Loomis; Mario Luppi; Paolo Lusso; Peter G Medveczky; Jose G Montoya; Yasuko Mori; Masao Ogata; Joshua C Pritchett; Sylvie Rogez; Edward Seto; Katherine N Ward; Tetsushi Yoshikawa; Raymund R Razonable Journal: Rev Med Virol Date: 2011-11-04 Impact factor: 6.989
Authors: Isabel Ortega-Madueño; Marta Garcia-Montojo; Maria Inmaculada Dominguez-Mozo; Angel Garcia-Martinez; Ana Maria Arias-Leal; Ignacio Casanova; Rafael Arroyo; Roberto Alvarez-Lafuente Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Maria Inmaculada Dominguez-Mozo; Marta Garcia-Montojo; Virginia De Las Heras; Angel Garcia-Martinez; Ana Maria Arias-Leal; Ignacio Casanova; Rafael Arroyo; Roberto Alvarez-Lafuente Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2012-09-25 Impact factor: 2.474