Pathogenesis of Congenital Rubella Virus Infection in Human Fetuses: Viral Infection in the Ciliary Body Could Play an Important Role in Cataractogenesis

• Published in: EBioMedicine Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 59 - 63
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Thong Van, Pham, Van Hung, Abe, Kenji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cataract; Cataract - pathology; Cataract - virology; Ciliary Body - pathology; Ciliary Body - virology; Congenital rubella infection (CRI); Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS); Female; Fetus - pathology; Fetus - virology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Organ Specificity; Original; Pathogenesis of rubella virus; Pathology of rubella; Pregnancy; RNA, Viral - genetics; Rubella - congenital; Rubella - pathology; Rubella - virology; Rubella virus - physiology; Pathology of rubella; Cataract; Congenital rubella infection (CRI); Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS); Pathogenesis of rubella virus
• ISSN: 2352-3964; 2352-3964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2014.10.021

Development of congenital rubella syndrome associated with rubella virus infection during pregnancy is clinically important, but the pathogenicity of the virus remains unclear. Pathological examination was conducted on 3 aborted fetuses with congenital rubella infection. At autopsy, all 3 aborted fetuses showed congenital cataract confirmed by gross observation. Rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs including circulating hematopoietic stem cells confirmed by immunohistochemical and molecular investigations, and major histopathogical changes were found in the liver. It is noteworthy that the virus infected the ciliary body of the eye, suggesting a possible cause of cataracts. Our study based on the pathological examination demonstrated that the rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs of human fetuses. This fact was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and direct detection of viral RNA in multiple organs. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report demonstrating that the rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs of the human body. Importantly, virus infection of the ciliary body could play an important role in cataractogenesis. •This study demonstrates that congenital rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs of human fetuses.•Virus infection of the ciliary body could play an important role in cataractogenesis.