New clues in Parkinson's disease. A virus that was supposed to be inert was found in the brains of patients.
A virus previously considered harmless to humans may be linked to the development of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in JCI Insight. Human pegivirus (HPgV) has been detected in the brains of half of Parkinson's disease patients, while it has not been detected in healthy individuals. Scientists suggest that the infection may affect the nervous system in individuals with certain genetic predispositions.
A team of researchers from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, led by Dr. Igor Koralnik, has discovered the presence of human pegivirus (HPgV) in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients. HPgV, previously considered harmless and asymptomatic, was detected in 5 of 10 Parkinson's disease patients studied. In comparison, none of the 14 control subjects had any trace of the virus.
“We were surprised to find it in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients at such a high frequency and not in the control group,” said Dr. Koralnik.
HPGV belongs to the same family as hepatitis C and is transmitted through the blood. New evidence suggests it can also infect the brain and affect its function, although it has not been studied in this way until now. Furthermore, the virus has also been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease.
The research team noted that the presence of the virus may have been associated with greater brain damage, and that immune system responses varied depending on the genetic makeup of the patients.
Researchers also examined blood samples from more than 1,000 patients participating in the international Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. HPGV was detected in the blood of only 1% of people with Parkinson's disease. However, other immune signals were observed in these patients, particularly in those with the LRRK2 gene mutation, a known risk factor for Parkinson's disease.
“This may suggest that it is an environmental factor that affects the body in a way we were not previously aware of,” Koralnik said.
Scientists emphasize that there is no direct cause-and-effect relationship between HPGV and the development of Parkinson's disease. However, the study shows that even viruses previously considered innocuous can, under certain circumstances, affect the functioning of the nervous system.
“Our goal is also to understand the interactions of viruses and genes; these findings could reveal how Parkinson’s disease begins and help develop future therapies,” Koralnik notes.
This study offers a new insight into one of the most complex neurological disorders of our time. If the link between infection and neurodegeneration can be confirmed, it could lead to the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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