Two groups have challenged the widely-publicized 2018 study in 2018, that found increased HHV-6A & 7 abundance and an association with clinical and pathology scores in Alzheimer’s. The topic has become the focus vigorous debate.
HHV-6A induces dysregulation of autophagy in neurons and astrocytoma cells, increasing beta-amyloid and tau
Building on their prior work, an Italian team has shown that HHV-6A is able to induce dysregulation of autophagy in neurons and astrocytoma cells, increasing amyloid beta and tau production.
HHV-6A (but not HHV-6B) linked to increased risk of multiple sclerosis
Karolinska Institute researchers developed a novel serological assay to determine that individuals with antibodies to HHV-6A early proteins are more likely to develop MS. HHV-6A antibodies were the highest in the presence of elevated EBV antibodies, suggesting that the two viruses could jointly contribute to the development of MS.
HHV-6B induces ER stress in primary monocytes, impairing their survival and differentiation into dendritic cells
Investigators propose that the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, likely exacerbated by autophagy inhibition, could contribute to the immune suppression induced by HHV-6B in exanthem subitem patients.
Pruritis, pain and numbness are signs of HHV-6 myelitis: a review of 19 cases
A review of post-transplant cases found that the incidence of HHV-6 myelitis was 4.1%; symptoms of pruritus without rash, pain, numbness, dysuria and constipation are potential signs.
Could anti-cytokine therapy be the key to reducing CNS damage in HHV-6 encephalitis?
Japanese investigators evaluated cytokines and chemokines in the CSF and plasma in HHV-6 encephalitis patients with good and poor prognoses. They found IL-6, IL-7, MCP-1 to be elevated one week before onset, suggesting that these cytokines may be effective targets for intervention.
Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of Alzheimer’s brains showed early changes that are highly cell-type specific with APOE strongly upregulated in the microglia
MIT examined transcription across tens of thousands of individual cells in both Alzheimer’s and healthy brains and found APOE strongly upregulated in the microglia and perturbation in myelination-related processes in multiple cell types including oligodendrocytes.
Could autophagy dysregulation link neurotropic viruses to Alzheimer’s disease?
The cellular housekeeping function of autophagy may play a role in Alzheimer’s as dysfunction could result in the accumulation of amyloid. HHV-6A, HHV-6B and HSV1 can infect central nervous system cells and dysregulate autophagy.
Foscarnet approved for HHV-6 encephalitis in Japan
Although foscarnet is widely used for HHV-6 encephalitis, it has never been specifically approved for HHV-6. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was the first to approve foscarnet (Foscavir) for the treatment of HHV-6 encephalitis.
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.
HHV-6 and EBV found in the brain tissue of Rasmussen’s Encephalitis patients
Chinese investigators found a high prevalence of HHV-6 and Epstein Barr virus in the brain tissues of children with Rasmussen’s encephalitis but in none of the controls. There was a significant association between viral presence and brain atrophy, raising a strong suspicion for the involvement of both viruses.
MAPK upregulation by HHV-6B proposed as the mechanism behind link to epilepsy.
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.
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.