Human herpesvirus 6 latent infection in patients with glioma

J Infect Dis. 2012 Nov;206(9):1394-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis513. Epub 2012 Sep 7.

Abstract

The etiology of glioma remains unclear so far. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) might be associated with glioma, but there is no direct evidence to support this. High percentages of HHV-6 DNA and protein were detected in tissue from gliomas, compared with normal brain tissue. In addition, a strain of HHV-6A was isolated from the fluid specimens from glioma cysts. High levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor α, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) were detected in the cyst fluid specimens from HHV-6-positive patients with glioma. Furthermore, HHV-6A infection promoted IL-6, IL-8, and TGF-β production in astrocyte cultures. Our studies strongly suggest the involvement of HHV-6 infection in the pathogenesis of glioma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Carrier State / epidemiology
  • Carrier State / virology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glioma / etiology
  • Glioma / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Roseolovirus Infections / complications
  • Roseolovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Roseolovirus Infections / virology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cytokines