Evidence for the Persistence of Paramyxoviruses in Human Bone Marrows

1 Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA 2 Department of Neurology, Central Middlesex Hospital, Acton Lane, London NW10 and 3 MRC Unit of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, Brompton Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6HP, U.K. Human bone marrow cells derived from multiple sclerosis (MS) and control patients were screened for a number of virus antigens by the fluorescent antibody technique using monoclonal antibodies. The results showed that antigens of the paramyxovirus, simian virus 5, were present in about 60% of MS and 25% of control bone marrows. About 25% of the MS and 50% of control bone marrows were found to contain nucleoprotein antigen of the human parainfluenza types 1 and 3. These experiments demonstrated that paramyxoviruses can persist in human tissues possibly in a defective or repressed state. Keywords: paramyxoviruses, simian virus 5, persistence Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of St. Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St. Andrews, Fife, U.K. Received 26 June 1984; accepted 31 July 1984.