HUMAN HERPES-VIRUS-6 (HHV-6) IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS - A POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR) STUDY

Human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) is a new member of the herpes virus famil y, able to remain integrated in the human genome after primary infecti on and to transactivate the expression of retroviral genes. It has bee n recognized to be lymphotropic and neurotropic, although its possible role in neurological diseases is largely unknown. Up to now HHV-6 inf ection has been studied mainly in inflammatory and disimmune diseases of the central nervous system. Taking into account the viral theories on the origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the biologica l properties of HHV-6, we investigated the presence of viral specific sequences in the total DNA extracted from the peripheral blood mononuc lear cells (PBMCs) from 20 ALS patients as well as from 20 blood donor s by PCR. The results showed the absence of HHV-6 specific sequences i n the DNA of ALS patients as well as of controls. Nevertheless, before conclusions can be drawn on the possible role of HHV-6 as cofactor in the development of ALS, it is necessary to examine cells other than l ymphocytes and a larger number of subjects.