title: The antibody response to Epstein-Barr virions is altered in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and patients with MS have an increased antibody response to some EBV antigens. The major antigens of EBV are only partly defined. Our hypothesis is that the antibody response to EBV is altered in MS. With ELISA, we found that antibodies to EB virions were increased in both serum and CSF of MS patients. Western blots demonstrated that there are multiple different antigens recognized. The antibody response was generally higher in MS to all EBV antigens, with particularly significant increases for certain antigens. We conclude that the antibody response to EBV in MS is generally increased with altered specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Suite 7.044, Houston, TX 77030, United States. John.w.lindsey@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Guirguis
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies