Borna disease virus targets limbic structure neurons - high immune complex levels parallel severe depression

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Borna Disease Virus Linked With Severe Mood Disorders

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LONDON (Reuters Health) Jul 05 - High amounts of circulating immune

complexes of Borna disease virus correlates with severity of depression,

investigators in Germany report.

Borna disease virus targets limbic structure neurons and is known to cause

behavioral abnormalities in animals, Dr. Liv Bode of the

Koch-Institut in Berlin and colleagues explain in the July issue of

Molecular Psychiatry.

Using a highly sensitive enzyme immune assay to analysis 3000 human plasma

samples, Dr. Bode's group found that Borna disease virus-specific

circulating immune complexes in humans were approximately " 10 times higher "

than that detected by previous serologic studies.

In group of 28 patients with major depressive disorder or depressive crisis

in bipolar disorder and 28 patients with moderate depressive symptoms, the

infection rate approached 100%, Dr. Bode's group reports. Infection rates in

a healthy control group of 65 subjects was only 32%. The investigators also

noted that high immune complex levels paralleled severe depression.

The investigators conclude that " an etiopathogenic role of Borna disease

virus in mood disorders seems considerably strengthened, given the

significant coincidence of severe disease and antigenemia. "

Mol Psychiatry 2001;6:481-491.