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Low prevalence of DNA viruses in the human endometrium and endometriosis

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Abstract

The chronic female disease endometriosis causes debilitating pain and lowered fertility. The aetiology is unknown, but indications of an infectious agent are present. This study investigates the possible involvement of a pathogenic virus in endometriosis patients and controls. DNA was purified from biopsies and subjected to highly sensitive PCR tests detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) types, the herpes family viruses HSV-1 and -2, CMV, and EBV, and the polyomaviruses SV40, JCV, BKV, KIV, WUV, and MCV. The prevalence of pathogenic DNA viruses in the human endometrium was generally low (0–10%). The virus prevalence was found to vary slightly when comparing the endometrium of healthy women and women with endometriosis. However, these were not significant differences, and no viruses were identified in endometriotic lesions. These results do not point towards any evidence that endometriosis is caused by these viruses.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Viviana Lutzky and Prof. Denis Moss from Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, for donating positive control virus samples. Thanks are also due to Dr. Nigel McMillan for stimulating discussions. This work was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, A. P. Møller’s Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Science, Aarhus Graduate School of Science, the Augustinus Foundation, the Harboe Foundation, Familien Hede Nielsen’s Foundation, Knud Højgaard’s Foundation, the Oticon Foundation, and Ingeniør Alexandre Haynman og hustru Nina Haynman’s Foundation, Denmark, Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning and the Mazda foundation, Sweden, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, C. F. Moellers Allé 3, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Anna L. Vestergaard & Pia M. Martensen

  2. Gyncological-Obstetric Department, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Ulla B. Knudsen, Torben Munk & Hanne Rosbach

  3. Clinical Medical Virology Centre, Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Royal Children’s Hospital, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia

    Seweryn Bialasiewicz & Theo P. Sloots

  4. Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Anna L. Vestergaard & Annika Antonsson

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  1. Anna L. Vestergaard
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Correspondence to Pia M. Martensen.

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Vestergaard, A.L., Knudsen, U.B., Munk, T. et al. Low prevalence of DNA viruses in the human endometrium and endometriosis. Arch Virol 155, 695–703 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-010-0643-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-010-0643-y

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