Serum antibodies from epileptic patients react, at high prevalence, with simian virus 40 mimotopes. (18th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Faggioli, R.; Mazzoni, E.; Borgna‐Pignatti, C.; Corallini, A.; Turlà, G.; Taronna, A. P.; Fiumana, E.; Martini, F.; Tognon, M.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neurology. Volume 22:Number 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 789
• Page End: e52
• Publication Date: 2015-01-18
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.12652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-5101

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ene12652-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ene12652-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and purpose</title> <p>It has been demonstrated that inflammation may contribute to epileptogenesis and cause neuronal injury in epilepsy. In this study, the prevalence of antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40), a kidney and neurotropic polyomavirus, was investigated in serum samples from 88 epileptic children/adolescents/young adults.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12652-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Serum antibodies reacting to specific SV40 peptides were analysed by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the epitopes of viral capsid proteins 1–3 were used as SV40 antigens.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12652-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A significantly higher prevalence of antibodies against SV40 was detected in sera from epileptic patients compared to controls (41% vs. 19%). Specifically, the highest significant difference was revealed in the cohort of patients from 1.1 to 10 years old (54% vs. 21%), with a peak in the sub‐cohort of 3.1–6 years old (65% vs. 18%).</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12652-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Our immunological data suggest a strong association between epilepsy and the SV40 infection.</p> </sec> </abstract>