摘要：一项研究提出，嗅觉系统可能为人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6）提供了进入大脑的一个路径，这种病毒与多发性硬化、脑炎以及一种癫痫等神经疾病有联系。Steven Jacobson及其同事试图通过研究来自人类尸体解剖的大脑组织样本从而追踪这种病毒进入大脑的途径。由于人类的嗅觉系统是某些病毒（诸如流感和狂犬病病毒）的入口，这组作者使用一种帮助发现人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6）DNA的分子技术搜寻嗅觉组织的这种病毒的迹象。这组作者从患多发性硬化和癌症的病人的尸检样本中发现人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6）遍布大脑，大部分病毒DNA是在嗅球发现的。嗅球是参与气味探测的大脑区域。此外，人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6）DNA还能够在来自健康人、嗅觉丧失的人以及多发性硬化病人的鼻粘膜样本中发现，这提示健康和有病的人的鼻腔和唾液一样，有可能让这种病毒藏身其中。此外，这组作者证明了人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6）可以成功地感染实验室培养的人类嗅鞘细胞，嗅鞘细胞能帮助大脑嗅觉细胞生长并在大脑中建立联系。这组作者说，这些发现提示这种病毒可能利用嗅鞘细胞作为跨越血液与大脑屏障的一个桥梁。
生物探索推荐英文论文摘要：
Human herpesvirus-6 entry into the central nervous system through the olfactory pathway
Abstract
Viruses have been implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a neurotropic virus that has been associated with a wide variety of neurologic disorders, including encephalitis, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Currently, the route of HHV-6 entry into the CNS is unknown. Using autopsy specimens, we found that the frequency of HHV-6 DNA in the olfactory bulb/tract region was among the highest in the brain regions examined. Given this finding, we investigated whether HHV-6 may infect the CNS via the olfactory pathway. HHV-6 DNA was detected in a total of 52 of 126 (41.3%) nasal mucous samples, showing the nasal cavity is a reservoir for HHV-6. Furthermore, specialized olfactory-ensheathing glial cells located in the nasal cavity were demonstrated to support HHV-6 replication in vitro. Collectively, these results support HHV-6 utilization of the olfactory pathway as a route of entry into the CNS.
