Viral infection and HSP-70 in Ménière disease

Meniere’s disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disorder characterized by fluctuating hearing loss, episodic vertigo and tinnitus. Its aetiology is unknown, although there is growing evidence that autoimmunity may be involved in its development. Our preliminary report investigated the co-occurence of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and viral and autoimmune antibodies in subjects affected by MD. Using the Western blot immunoassay, we examined in thirtheen patients’ sera the reactivity to bovine inner ear antigen (anti-heat shock protein 70 [HSP70] antibodies) and the presence of viral antibodies and autoantibodies (Herpes simplex type 1-2, Herpes Zoster, Cytomegalovirus, Ebstein-Barr IgM and IgG. Cardiolipin, thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase,antinuclear, antimythocondrial and anti-smooth cell antibodies). Aim of the study was to probe a possible relationship between the presence of anti-HSP70 antibodies and the antibody pattern. Reactivity to HSP70 was found only in 1/13 MD patients (7.7%) and occurred during a Herpes Zoster (VZV) reactivation. The occurrence of anti- HSP70 antibodies concomitant to the VZV expression suggests it was probably due to an aspecific polyclonal expression during the infection. No relationship was found between the presence of antibodies to HSP-70 and the immunologic and viral testing.