EBNA-1 reactivity and HLA DRB1*1501 as statistically independent risk factors for multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The interaction between the two best documented risk factors (human leukocyte antigen [HLA] class II [DRB1*1501 positivity] and Epstein-Barr virus [elevated Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) antibody reactivity]) for multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied in a case-control study of biobank samples from 109 MS cases and 212 matched referents.


RESULTS
Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that both were statistically significant in both sexes. HLA DRB1*1501-positive referents had higher EBNA-1 reactivity than HLA-negative referents. Less EBNA-1 reactivity was required to increase the MS risk in HLA DRB1*1501-positives than in HLA-negatives.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that HLA DRB1*1501-positive individuals have an increased vulnerability to EBV-induced autoimmunity.
Sundström
P
P
Department of Neurology, Umeå University Hospital, Umea, Sweden. peter.sundstrom@neuro.umu.se
Nyström
L
L
Jidell
E
E
Hallmans
G
G
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C489631:HLA-DRB1*15:01 antigen; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1