Virome Analysis Reveals No Association of Head and Neck Vascular Anomalies with an Active Viral Infection

Abstract

Background/aim: Vascular anomalies encompass different vascular malformations [arteriovenous (AVM), lymphatic (LM), venous lymphatic (VLM), venous (VM)] and vascular tumors such as hemangiomas (HA). The pathogenesis of vascular anomalies is still poorly understood. Viral infection was speculated as a possible underlying cause.

Materials and methods: A total of 13 human vascular anomalies and three human skin control tissues were used for viral analysis. RNA derived from AVM (n=4) and normal skin control (n=3) tissues was evaluated by RNA sequencing. The Virome Capture Sequencing Platform for Vertebrate Viruses (VirCapSeq-VERT) was deployed on 10 tissues with vascular anomalies (2×AVM, 1×HA, 1×LM, 2×VLM, 4×VM).

Results: RNA sequencing did not show any correlation of AVM with viral infection. By deploying VirCapSeq-VERT, no consistent viral association was seen in the tested tissues.

Conclusion: The analysis does not point to the presence of an active viral infection in vascular anomalies. However, transient earlier viral infections, e.g. during pregnancy, cannot be excluded with this approach.

Keywords: Virome; head and neck; vascular anomaly.