The role of EBV in MS pathogenesis.
Environmental factors operate on a background of genetic susceptibility in the pathogenesis of MS. Human herpesviruses, notably Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human endogenous retroviruses are factors associated with MS. EBV association is found in epidemiological surveys where late EBV infection confers a higher risk of MS, and EBV reactivation also appears to be linked to disease activity in early MS. MS patients have elevated anti-EBV antibody responses, both in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Molecular mimicry is found between certain EBV and myelin epitopes in the cell-mediated immune response. EBV cannot stand alone as a causal factor of MS, but is likely to play an indirect role as an activator of the underlying disease process.
Christensen
T
T
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. tc@microbiology.au.dk
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral