Swedish investigators set out to uncover the pathways that HHV-6B might utilize in triggering MTLE. They found that HHV-6B infection altered expression of MAPK genes, suggesting a possible pathogenic mechanisms of HHV-6B in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
Acute seizures in children: a new study highlights the role of infections and inflammation
NINDS investigators found that children with febrile seizures have elevated inflammatory cytokines compared to healthy controls and children with fever. One of those cytokines, Il-1β, correlated with HHV-6 saliva viral load.
Active HHV-6A/B found in the cerebellar Purkinje cells in patients with mood disorders
HHV-6 was found more frequently in the Purkinje cells of bipolar and major depressive disorder patients compared to controls. Furthermore HHV-6A was associated with a reduced Purkinje cell size. HHV-6 was not found, however in patients with schizophrenia.
Could this be why HHV-6 is better than other herpesviruses at establishing latent infection?
German investigators suggest that silencing of HHV-6A by the ND10 complex may explain why HHV-6A is more likely than other herpesviruses to establish a quiescent infection.
Why did these transplant protocols result in such a high rate of HHV-6 encephalitis (32%) and organ disease (46%)?
Investigators in Spain and Italy attempted to reduce the rate of acute GVHD in pediatric transplant patients by infusing manipulated stem cells. Not only was there no reduction in expected acute GVHD, the patients experienced an unusually high rate of HHV-6 disease.
Cancer related fatigue and HHV-6 & HHV-7 saliva DNA levels
Investigators from Japan looked at HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA levels in saliva to see if they might be biomarkers for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in multiple myeloma patients.
HHV-6 small non-coding RNA proposed as an indicator of an early stage of HHV-6 reactivation
German investigators have identified a marker for what they believe is the earliest stage of viral reactivation, or “transactivation” marked by transcription of several viral small non-coding RNAs in the absence of detectable viral replication. The group believes that these viral small RNAs could be developed as biomarkers.
Gene-expression network analysis points to HHV-6A as a key driver in upregulating genes leading to Alzheimer’s disease progression
Investigators at Mt Sinai used “big data” models to determine that the genes involved with fighting Alzheimer’s are the same ones that fight virus. They found HHV-6A and HHV-7 to be more abundant in Alzheimer’s brains, and singled out HHV6-A as a key modulator of the genes involved in amyloidosis and neuronal death.
HHV-6 and HSV1 dramatically accelerate amyloid plaque production in Alzheimer’s model
Researchers at Harvard studied how neurons responded to the presence of herpesviruses HSV1 and HHV-6, and found that they rapidly induce amyloid plaque production within 24 to 48 hours.
Antiviral therapy reduces risk of dementia in Taiwan seniors with a history of acute herpesvirus infections
Large insurance data studies in Taiwan have found that seniors with shingles or serious HSV1 infections have a 2-3 fold increased risk of certain forms of dementia, and that antiviral treatment can reduce that risk by 90%.
Infants with HHV-6B seizures are 15X more likely to develop febrile status epilepticus
A large prospective study in Africa adds weight to argument that HHV-6B infection is an important cause of febrile status epilepticus.
HHV-6 encephalitis in 32% of pediatric leukemia patients depleted of naïve T cells
Although depleting naïve T cells has been successful in preventing acute graft vs host disease in several studies, investigators from Spain reported an unexpectedly high incidence of HHV-6 encephalitis in a cohort of haploidentical transplant patients.
Apparent activation of ciHHV-6 in response to HDACi cancer drug vorinostat
Inherited ciHHV-6 has been shown to activate under conditions of immunosuppression and and the pan-HDAC inhibitor TSA activates integrated ciHHV-6 in vitro. This is the first case report of HHV-6 activation in a ciHHV-6 patient who received a pan-HDAC inhibitor drug.
HHV-6+ lymph nodes can lead to a faulty cancer diagnosis
Investigators at the National Cancer Institute found that HHV-6+ lymph nodes can be identified in biopsies from both lymphadenopathy and malignancies. They warn that failing to identify HHV-6 in these biopsies can lead to misdiagnosis in lymphoma cases.
HHV-6 reactivation associated with unexplained fever and biliary atresia in pediatric liver transplant patients
A Japanese study found that unexplained fever and biliary atresia are associated with HHV-6B infection in pediatric transplant patients. 100% of seronegative infants developed a primary infection.