title: Epstein-Barr virus-specific antibody response in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid and serum levels and intrathecal synthesis of anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 80 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients grouped according to clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity. Eighty patients with other inflammatory neurological disorders (OIND) and 80 patients with non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) served as neurological controls. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations were higher in OIND than in multiple sclerosis (p < 0.0001) and NIND (p < 0.01) for anti-viral-capsid-antigen (anti-VCA) IgG, in multiple sclerosis than in NIND (p < 0.01) and in OIND than in NIND (p < 0.05) for anti-EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG. Serum levels were more elevated in OIND than in multiple sclerosis (p < 0.05) and in MRI inactive than in MRI active multiple sclerosis (p < 0.0001) for anti-VCA IgG, and in multiple sclerosis than in OIND and NIND (p < 0.01) for anti-EBNA-1 IgG. Serum titres of anti-VCA and anti-EBNA-1 IgG were also positively (p < 0.05) and inversely (p < 0.001) correlated, respectively, with the Expanded Disability Status Scale. An intrathecal IgG production of anti-VCA and anti-EBNA-1 IgG, as indicated by Antibody Index, was present only in a limited number of multiple sclerosis patients and controls (range from 1.3 to 6.3%). These findings do not support a direct pathogenetic role of EBV-targeted humoral immune response in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Communication and Behaviour, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. massimiliano.castellazzi@unife.it
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamborino
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cani
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seraceni
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tola
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granieri
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contini
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fainardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007558:Italy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen