Back to Search
Start Over
HHV-6A Infection and Systemic Sclerosis: Clues of a Possible Association
- Source :
- Microorganisms, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 39 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, excessive extracellular matrix deposition, and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Several infectious agents, including human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), have been suggested as possible triggering factors, but a direct association is still missing. We characterized 26 SSc patients for the presence of HHV-6 in tissues and blood, the anti-HHV-6 response, HLA-G plasma levels, and KIR typing. Given the prominent role of endothelial cells (EC) in SSc pathogenesis, along with HHV-6 tropism for EC, we also investigated the expression of pro-fibrosis factors in HHV-6 infected EC. Results showed the presence of HHV-6A in skin biopsies, and an increased virus load was associated with disease severity and poor natural killer (NK) response against the virus, particularly in subjects exhibiting a KIR2 phenotype. HLA-G plasma levels were significantly higher in HHV-6A/B-KIR2 positive SSc patients and in vitro HHV-6A infection-induced pro-fibrosis factors expression in EC, supporting its role in the development of the fibrosing process. Our data suggest an association between virus infection/reactivation and disease, opening the way to future studies to understand the mechanisms by which HHV-6A might contribute to the multifactorial pathogenesis of SSc.
- Subjects :
- systemic sclerosis
hhv-6
immune response
hla-g
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20762607
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Microorganisms
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.5317379f99874cfcb4fd3a7059021fe9
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8010039