Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Background: In a previous study on encephalitis lethargica, we identified a virus related to enterovirus in autopsy brain material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analysis were employed. Our present objective was to investigate, using a similar appr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2018-05-01
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| Series: | F1000Research |
| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/7-302/v2 |
| _version_ | 1811341689109872640 |
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| author | Robert R. Dourmashkin Sherman A. McCall Neil Dourmashkin Matthew J. Hannah |
| author_facet | Robert R. Dourmashkin Sherman A. McCall Neil Dourmashkin Matthew J. Hannah |
| author_sort | Robert R. Dourmashkin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In a previous study on encephalitis lethargica, we identified a virus related to enterovirus in autopsy brain material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analysis were employed. Our present objective was to investigate, using a similar approach, as to whether virus-like particles (VLP) and enterovirus antigen are present in Parkinson’s disease (PD) brainstem neurons. Methods: Fixed tissue from autopsy specimens of late onset PD and control brainstem tissue were received for study. The brain tissue was processed for TEM and IHC according to previous published methods. Results: We observed VLP in the brainstem neurons of all the cases of PD that were examined. In the neurons’ cytoplasm there were many virus factories consisting of VLP and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. In some neurons, the virus factories contained incomplete VLP. Complete VLP in some neurons’ virus factories had an average diameter of 31 nm, larger than control brain ribosomes. In the nuclei, there were VLP with an average diameter of 40 nm. In cases of human poliomyelitis, there were cytoplasmic virus factories and intranuclear virus particles similar to those observed in PD. On preparing PD brain sections for IHC there was positive staining using anti-poliovirus antibody and anti-coxsackie antibody. This result was statistically significant. Conclusions: We present evidence for an enterovirus infection in PD. For future studies, virus isolation and molecular analysis are suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:57:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7ea5acf69954098b3b4ba2260afb405 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:57:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7ea5acf69954098b3b4ba2260afb4052022-12-22T02:34:11ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022018-05-01710.12688/f1000research.13626.216066Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Robert R. Dourmashkin0Sherman A. McCall1Neil Dourmashkin2Matthew J. Hannah3Visiting Research Fellow, Virus Reference Dept., National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UKMolecular Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 20306, USAAcacia Consulting Sàrl, Luxembourg, L-1244, LuxembourgVirus Reference Department, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UKBackground: In a previous study on encephalitis lethargica, we identified a virus related to enterovirus in autopsy brain material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analysis were employed. Our present objective was to investigate, using a similar approach, as to whether virus-like particles (VLP) and enterovirus antigen are present in Parkinson’s disease (PD) brainstem neurons. Methods: Fixed tissue from autopsy specimens of late onset PD and control brainstem tissue were received for study. The brain tissue was processed for TEM and IHC according to previous published methods. Results: We observed VLP in the brainstem neurons of all the cases of PD that were examined. In the neurons’ cytoplasm there were many virus factories consisting of VLP and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. In some neurons, the virus factories contained incomplete VLP. Complete VLP in some neurons’ virus factories had an average diameter of 31 nm, larger than control brain ribosomes. In the nuclei, there were VLP with an average diameter of 40 nm. In cases of human poliomyelitis, there were cytoplasmic virus factories and intranuclear virus particles similar to those observed in PD. On preparing PD brain sections for IHC there was positive staining using anti-poliovirus antibody and anti-coxsackie antibody. This result was statistically significant. Conclusions: We present evidence for an enterovirus infection in PD. For future studies, virus isolation and molecular analysis are suggested.https://f1000research.com/articles/7-302/v2 |
| spellingShingle | Robert R. Dourmashkin Sherman A. McCall Neil Dourmashkin Matthew J. Hannah Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] F1000Research |
| title | Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson’s disease [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | virus like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of parkinson s disease version 2 referees 2 approved 1 approved with reservations |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/7-302/v2 |
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