title: Epstein-Barr virus in the multiple sclerosis brain: a controversial issue--report on a focused workshop held in the Centre for Brain Research of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
abstract: Recent epidemiological and immunological studies provide evidence for an association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and multiple sclerosis, suggesting a role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in disease induction and pathogenesis. A key question in this context is whether Epstein-Barr virus-infected B lymphocytes are present within the central nervous system and the lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis. Previous studies on this topic provided highly controversial results, showing Epstein-Barr virus reactivity in B cells in the vast majority of multiple sclerosis cases and lesions, or only exceptional Epstein-Barr virus-positive B cells in rare cases. In an attempt to explain the reasons for these divergent results, a workshop was organized under the umbrella of the European Union FP6 NeuroproMiSe project, the outcome of which is presented here. This report summarizes the current knowledge of Epstein-Barr virus biology and shows that Epstein-Barr virus infection is highly complex. There are still major controversies, how to unequivocally identify Epstein-Barr virus infection in pathological tissues, particularly in situations other than Epstein-Barr virus-driven lymphomas or acute Epstein-Barr virus infections. It further highlights that unequivocal proof of Epstein-Barr virus infection in multiple sclerosis lesions is still lacking, due to issues related to the sensitivity and specificity of the detection methods.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Wien, Austria. hans.lassmann@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lassmann
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niedobitek
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aloisi
authors.forename: Jaap M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Middeldorp
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004493:Education; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral