Potential for autoimmune pathogenesis of Rift Valley Fever virus retinitis
Date
2013Author
Newman-Gerhardt, Shoshana
Muiruri, Samuel
Muchiri, Eric
Peters, Clarence J
Morrill, John
Lucas, Alexander H
King, Charles H
Kazura, James
LaBeaud, Angelle Desiree
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Show full item recordAbstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a significant threat to human health because it can progress to retinitis, encephalitis, and
hemorrhagic fever. The timing of onset of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) retinitis suggests an autoimmune origin. To determine whether RVFV retinitis is associated with increased levels of IgG against retinal tissue, we measured and compared levels of IgG against healthy human eye tissue by immunohistochemical analysis. We found that serum samples from RVFV-exposed Kenyans with retinitis (n = 8) were slightly more likely to antibodies against retinal tissue than control populations, but the correlation was not statistically significant. Further investigation into the possible immune pathogenesis of RVFV retinitis could lead to improved therapies to prevent or treat this severe complication.