Paramyxovirus Antigens in Osteoclasts from Paget's Bone Tissue Detected by Monoclonal Antibodies

¹ Department of Histology-Embryology, U.E.R. Medicine, University of Angers, rue Haute de Reculée, 49045 Angers-Cédex, France
² Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of St. Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL, U.K.
and³ Division of Virology, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U.51), 1 Place du Pr. J. Renaut, 69371 Lyon-Cédex 08, France

The fluorescent antibody technique using both monoclonal and specific polyclonal virus antibodies was applied to investigate the nature of the inclusions seen in the abnormal osteoclasts associated with Paget's bone disease. The results show that antigens of measles virus, simian virus 5 (SV5) and human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PF3) could be detected in the osteoclasts but not in control bone cells. Measles and SV5 nucleoprotein (NP) and haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) antigens were apparently present in all the cases of Paget's disease examined, whereas PF3 NP and HN antigens were present only in some of the cases. These investigations suggest that paramyxoviruses may play a role in the aetiology of the bone disease.