Detection of herpes simplex virus DNA sequences in human blood and bone marrow cells

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSVI) establishes latent infections in neural tissues of humans and experimental animals. Utilizing a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay we detected HSV DNA sequences in blood cells of healthy prospective bone marrow transplant (BMT) donors and patients. In three healthy individuals studied, HSV DNA sequences were found in all blood cell types and also in bone marrow cells as well as in stem cell progenitor colonies isolated from in vitro cultures. Studies of BMT donorrecipient pairs suggested that HSV reactivation may occur in hematopoietic cells after transplantation, as the PCR signal intensity increased over time simultaneous with an increased antibody titer to HSV. In a mouse model for HSV infection, HSV DNA sequences were found in blood and bone marrow cells at the latent stage of infection, after intravenous (IV) inoculation, but not after ocular inoculation. These studies suggest that bone marrow cells may be an additional site of HSV latency capable of reactivation after BMT. These studies have broad implications for understanding pathogenesis of HSV disease and are of particular significance in situations where allogeneic bone marrow cells are given therapeutically.

Resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 and its latent infection of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I-transformed T cell lines of rabbits.

“…Thus, infectious viruses were rarely isolated from PBL, which were usually in the resting state : only a few cases of HSV-1 viraemia have been reported (Craig & Nahmias, 1973 ;Naraqui et al, 1976). In a recent study, HSV-1 DNA sequences were detected in blood and bone marrow cells, suggesting that these cells were latently infected (Cantin et al, 1994).…”

Persistence and Reactivation of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 in the Tonsils of Latently Infected Calves

“…PRV DNA was consistently detected in some studies (5,9,35,36) but not others (3,18). Nonneural sites for latency or persistence have also been described for HSV-1 (8,17,29) and may be important for ocular disease (17). Thus, nonneural sites of latency or persistence may be a normal outcome of acute infection by certain ␣-herpesviruses.…”

“…Canine herpesvirus 1 DNA has been detected in tonsils of latently infected dogs (6), and during reactivation virus was recovered from tonsil tissues (20). HSV-1 has been detected in bone marrow of humans (8) and in other nonneural sites in small-animal models (17,29). Pseudorabies virus (PRV) DNA has also been detected in tonsils (2,3,16,35,36) of latently infected swine.…”

Distribution of Bovine Herpesvirus Type 5 DNA in the Central Nervous Systems of Latently, Experimentally Infected Calves

“…Nevertheless, other possible neural and nonneural sites of latent infection or virus persistence have also been described for these viruses (reviewed in references 11, 16, 17, 28, and 36). Latent HSV-1 DNA has been detected in human nodose ganglia, vagus nerve, and bone marrow and in some areas of the central nervous system (CNS) (5,13,14,19). In latently infected mice, HSV-1 DNA has been detected in the cornea (15,21), and it has been detected in nonneural sites in other animal models (11,33,36).…”