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Human spumaretrovirus antibody reactivity in multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

The role of human spumaretrovirus (HSRV) infections in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated with recombinant HSRV env-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The presence of HSRV antibodies was determined in pairs of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 60 MS patients. In 7 of these patients serial serum and CSF samples were obtained in relation to the clinical activity of the disease during a period of 2 years. No increased antibody reactivity was demonstrable in the MS population compared with 14 aseptic meningitis patients, 50 blood donors and 16 healthy controls. Slightly elevated levels of antibodies were demonstrable in serum and/or CSF in 4 MS patients but also in 1 patient with aseptic meningitis, 1 blood donor and 1 child. No marked serum or CSF HSRV antibody fluctuation was observed in the MS patients followed longitudinally. Thus, this study does not support the involvement of HSRV in the pathogenesis of MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Gothenburg, S-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Jan Lycke & Oluf Andersen

  2. Department of Virology, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Gothenburg, S-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Bo Svennerholm

  3. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Gothenburg, S-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Anders Svenningsson

  4. Department of Retroviral Gene Expression, Angewandte Turmorvirologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Germany

    Walter Muranyi & Rolf M. Flügel

Authors
  1. Jan Lycke
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  2. Bo Svennerholm
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  3. Anders Svenningsson
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  4. Walter Muranyi
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  5. Rolf M. Flügel
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  6. Oluf Andersen
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Lycke, J., Svennerholm, B., Svenningsson, A. et al. Human spumaretrovirus antibody reactivity in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 241, 204–209 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00863769

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00863769

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