Human herpesviruses in MS.
Environmental factors operate on a background of genetic susceptibility in MS pathogenesis; the human herpesviruses (HHV) are likely candidates for such factors. HHV share a number of properties: they are almost ubiquitous, they are highly prevalent worldwide, they all cause latent infections and they are capable of reactivation. Epstein Barr virus (EBV), HHV-6A and varicella zoster virus (VZV) are consistently linked with MS, particularly with respect to epidemiology, antibody responses in serum (EBV) and cerebrospinal fluid (EBV and HHV-6A), and with MS exacerbations that are associated with viral reactivation (VZV, HHV-6A and EBV). HHV have the potential for a causal role in MS--they may be key players in the disease process--and this role could be mediated through several direct or indirect mechanisms.
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Aarhus, Denmark. tc@microbiology.au.dk
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D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity