title: Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis: cellular immune response and cross-reactivity.
abstract: We investigated T cell immunity to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in multiple sclerosis (MS) and assessed cross-reactivity of the anti-EBV cellular response with brain antigens. We measured the proliferation, cytotoxicity, and number of interferon-γ secreting cells following stimulation with autologous EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) in MS patients and matched controls. There were no statistically significant differences for any of the measured responses, but there was a trend towards decreased proliferative responses in MS patients. There was no measured cross-reactivity between LCL and brain antigens. We conclude that the cellular immune response against EBV-infected cells is neither increased nor decreased in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. John.w.lindsey@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: J William
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: Landon M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hatfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay / Q000379:methods; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines