Stimulation of TTV replication by EBV in cells of lymphatic origin

SILVIA S. BORKOSKY; CORINNA WHITLEY; ANNETTE KOPP-SCHNEIDER; HARALD ZUR HAUSEN; ETHEL-MICHELE DE VILLIERS

Guanajuato

Simposio; 6th International Geminivirus Symposium & 4th International ssDNA Comparative Virology Workshop; 2010

Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav)

Viral infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has frequently been investigated as a possible candidate. Torque teno virus (TTV) has also been discussed in this context. Nevertheless, mechanistic aspects remain unresolved. We report viral replication of two TTV-HD isolates obtained from multiple sclerosis brain tissue in a series of EBV- positive and -negative hematopoietic cell lines. Our results demonstrate the replication of both transfected TTV genomes in all the evaluated cell lines. Quantitative amplification indicates an enhanced TTV replication in the EBV-positive cell lines in comparison to the EBV-negative Burkitt´s lymphoma cell line BJAB, suggesting a helper effect of EBV infections in the replication of TTV. The present study provides information on a possible interaction of EBV and TTV in the etiology and progression of multiple sclerosis.