[en] The pathogenic mechanisms involved in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections remain elusive. The pattern of cutaneous distribution of the IE63 protein and of the gpI (gE) and gpII glycoproteins with their corresponding genome sequences during VZV infections was studied by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with varicella, herpes zoster, or atypical VZV lesions. The first evidence for VZV infection consisted of the presence of IE63 in keratinocytes. In the vesicles and pustules, the viral transcripts gpI, gpII, and IE63 and the corresponding nucleic acids for gpI and gpII were identified in keratinocytes, sebocytes, Langerhans cells, dermal dendrocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and endothelial cells. The gpI and gpII glycorpoteins were essentially located on the cellular membranes while IE63 expression was generally restricted to the nuclei. In three biopsies of early herpes zoster, viral proteins were disclosed in dermal nerves and in perineurial type I dendrocytes. This was never encountered in varicella. Vasculitic changes and endothelial cell involvement were more prominent in varicella than in herpes zoster. It is concluded that the secondary viremia in varicella that affects the dermal endothelial cells is followed by a cell-to-cell spread to keratinocytes. In herpes zoster, the viral progression through cutaneous nerves primarily extends to the pilosebaceous units with a secondary involvement of epidermal keratinocytes, followed by a further spread to dermal cells.
Disciplines :
Microbiology Dermatology
Author, co-author :
Nikkels, Arjen ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Dermatologie
Debrus, S.
Sadzot-Delvaux, Catherine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > GIGA-R : Virologie et immunologie - GIGA-M : Coordination scientifique
Piette, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > GIGA-R : Virologie - Immunologie - Département des sciences de la vie - GIGA-Research
Rentier, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services administratifs généraux > Recteur - GIGA-R : Virologie - Immunologie
Pierard, Gérald ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Dermatopathologie
Language :
English
Title :
Localization of varicella-zoster virus nucleic acids and proteins in human skin.
Publication date :
1995
Journal title :
Neurology
ISSN :
0028-3878
eISSN :
1526-632X
Publisher :
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Hagerstown, United States - Maryland
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