title: Vitamin D status modulates the immune response to Epstein Barr virus: Synergistic effect of risk factors in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: MS risk is associated with low vitamin D status prior to disease, and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection seems to be a prerequisite for MS. EBV could activate autoreactive T cells by several mechanisms, but it is not clear why this leads to MS. Only a small proportion of those infected with EBV develops MS, whereas autoreactive T cells are present in the normal T cell repertoire. Genetic factors cannot explain this enigma alone, because the genetic predisposition to MS in most cases is quite weak. Vitamin D receptors are expressed on EBV infected B cells, antigen presenting cells and activated lymphocytes, and the bioactive vitamin D metabolite dihydroxyvitamin D(3) suppresses antibody production and T cell proliferation and skews T cells towards a less detrimental Th2 phenotype. EBV infected B cells constitute a constant challenge to the immune system, also during seasonal periods of relative low vitamin D status. I propose that vitamin D modulates the immune response to EBV, and that detrimental activation of autoreactive T cells leading to MS is more likely if the vitamin D status is suboptimal.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center and Department of Neurology, Ulleval University Hospital, 0027 Oslo, Norway. trygve.holmoy@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Trygve
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holmøy
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014807:Vitamin D