HHV-6 was found to be significantly correlated with nerve fiber damage severity by Latvian investigators. 51% of fibromyalgia patients had detectable HHV-6 DNA in whole blood compared to just 6% of controls.
HHV-6 in Cancer: Does it play a role?
Since its discovery, HHV-6 has been studied in the context of lymphoproliferative disorders and various types of cancer. Several obstacles, particularly the ubiquitous nature of the virus, have made it difficult to determine exactly how HHV-6 might, or might not, be involved in tumor development.
$4 million in prizes for literature reviews that explain Alzheiemer’s
The Oskar Fischer prize is named after a neuropathologist who was the first to describe neuritic plaques in 1907 in Prague. James Truchard, the former CEO and Chairman of National Instruments has donated funds for a prize to scientists who can review the existing medical literature to come up with a theory on what causes Alzheimer’s. Truchard points out that …
Research Priorities
Note: we welcome your input. Please send comments to: Kristin_Loomis@HHV-6Foundation.org PROPOSED NEW PRIORITIES FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH From the HHV-6A/B & HHV-7 research community This summary was compiled by the HHV-6 Foundation with input from experts on HHV-6A & HHV-7, many of whom serve on our Scientific Advisory Board. Exploration of HHV-6A and HHV-7 in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s …
Stanford finds high levels of HHV-6 in the tissues of children with liver failure
A team at Stanford reported that 48% of young children with “liver failure of unknown etiology” had high viral loads of HHV-6 in their liver tissues. As a result, Stanford has now instituted routine evaluation for HHV-6 in all children who present with liver failure.
HHV-6A receptor CD46 identified as a critical factor in ‘awakening’ endogenous retrovirus
Both infectious and UV-inactivated HHV-6A activate endogenous retrovirus envelope protein – but so does selective stimulation of HHV-6A’s CD46 receptor. This “cross-talk” between HHV-6A and endogenous retrovirus appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.
Porcine cytomegalovirus to be re-classified as a roseolovirus
Porcine CMV is an immunosuppressive virus that inhibits T-lymphocyte and macrophage immune functions, and like HHV-6A, it causes infertility. Porcine CMV infection also reduces the survival of pig xenotransplants.
New findings on how HHV-6A/B U94 blocks angiogenesis
The HHV-6 latency gene U94 has been found to block angiogenesis, but the mechanisms behind this phenomenon have been unclear. A team lead by Roberta Rizzo and Elisabetta Caselli in Italy shed light on this process, opening the door to new potential molecular targets to pursue in treating diseases marked by improper vascularization.
HHV-6A & B dysregulate autophagy differently in HSB-2 cells
A group led by Mara Cirone in Italy found that HHV-6B blocks autophagy in HSB-2 cells. Both HSV-1 and CMV have proteins that block autophagy, and HHV-6B carries genes that are homologues of those encoding for CMV’s anti-autophagy protein. Her next step is to study the impact of both HHV-6A and HHV-6B on autophagy in neuronal cells.
RNA sequencing of HHV-6B transcriptome identifies U38 as the best target for HHV-6 RT-PCR testing
Investigators at University of Washington studied multiple samples to develop an assay that can detect active infection in patients with chromosomally integrated HHV-6. Current quantitative PCR DNA testing cannot determine whether a ciHHV6 patient has active replication.
NEJM HIGHLIGHTS A CASE OF HHV-6 REACTIVATION IN DRESS
The NEJM rarely covers HHV-6, but did an excellent case history of this patient with HHV-6 reactivation in conjunction with DRESS. The patient was not treated with an antiviral in spite of a plasma HHV-6 DNA load of 112,836, extensive lymphadenopathy, rash and abnormal liver function tests. What did NEJM get wrong? They stated ciHHV6 could be ruled out because …
Infection with HHV-6A/B speeds progression of disease in marmoset model of MS
Marmosets infected with HHV-6A/B intranasally were initially asymptomatic but later developed significantly accelerated disease and died in a shorter period of time. HHV-6 proteins were found at high levels in the brain lesions.
Genomic analysis finds a surprising association between ciHHV-6 and two genes
A genomic analysis of samples from 141,431 Chinese women found a highly significant association between ciHHV-6 and a variant in the MLCI-MOV10L region. The MLC1 gene is involved in myeloid cell differentiation and the MOV10L1 gene may allow for more efficient integration during spermatogenesis.
Rapid lymphocyte expansion after HCT predicts increased HHV-6 reactivation
A team of researchers at Kyoto University in Japan reported that rapid lymphocyte expansion is a good predictive factor for increased HHV-6 reactivation, as well as reduced CMV antigenemia. Patients with aplastic anemia as a primary disease had a 5 fold increased risk of HHV-6 reactivation.
Mycophenolate mofetil tied to increased risk of HHV-6 encephalitis after allogenic transplantation
Japanese investigators found that those who were administered mycophenolate mofetil along with a calcineurin inhibitor developed a much higher rate of infection: 12% in cord blood and 6% in other transplants.