Germ-Line Transmitted, Chromosomally Integrated HHV-6 and Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Adam J Bell, Alice Gallagher, Timothy Mottram, Annette Lake, Eleanor V Kane, Tracy Lightfoot, Eve Roman, Ruth F Jarrett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A unique feature of both human herpesvirus 6A and B (HHV-6A and B) among human herpesviruses is their ability to integrate into chromosomal telomeres. In some individuals integrated viral genomes are present in the germ-line and result in the vertical transmission of HHV-6; however, little is known about the disease associations of germ-line transmitted, chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (ciHHV-6). Recent publications suggest that HHV-6 is associated with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Here we examine the prevalence of ciHHV-6 in 936 cases of cHL and 563 controls by screening with a duplex TaqMan assay and confirming with droplet digital PCR. ciHHV-6 was detected in 10/563 (1.8%) controls and in all but one individual the virus was HHV-6B. Amongst cases 16/936 (1.7%) harboured ciHHV-6, thus demonstrating no association between ciHHV-6 and risk of cHL.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere112642
Number of pages8
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume9
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2014

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