title: Epstein-Barr virus etiology in rheumatoid synovitis.
abstract: The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has remained unknown, although it has been investigated and speculated that both genetic and environmental components contribute to the cause of this disease. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been a strong candidate about for over 25 years as environmental infectious agent(s). There are many circumstantial evidence for association between EBV and RA, but definite evidence is wanting. In present article, we review an increase circumstantial proof which has been investigated so far and demonstrate direct evidence for the presence of EBV in inflamed synovial cells in patients with RA and discuss on the recent finding of signaling lymphocytic-activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP), which opened a new approach to understand on impaired function of cytotoxic T cell for EBV in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Hematology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-kamimachi Oyaguchi, Tokyo, Japan. sswd98@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shigemasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takei
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C114953:SH2D1A protein, human; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1