Immunohistological demonstration of respiratory syncytial virus antigens in Paget disease of bone.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus antisera produced a positive immunohistologic response [using immunoperoxidase staining and immunofluorescent staining] in osteoclasts in bone sections or in cells cultured from Paget disease lesions in 12 of 12 patients tested. The experiments were carefully controlled by several means. Use of experimentally infected cells served as positive controls. Adsorption of antisera on human bone powder and KB cells did not remove the specific immunologic stain, but adsorption of the antisera by the virus did. Negative results were also obtained in osteoclasts of patients with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism. Negative results in specimens of Paget disease were found with antisera to measles; parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3; influenza A, B and C; rubella; and herpes simplex. The nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions in the osteoclasts of Paget disease are apparently a result of viral activity.