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Chlamydia pneumoniae and multiple sclerosis: no significant association
1Dept of Microbiology and the Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
The cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown. Despite indications from epidemiological and identical-twin studies that MS is infectious, no virus or other infectious agent has been tightly linked to disease. The isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients and the detection of both Chlamydia-specific DNA and antibody in MS CSF have been reported. Other analyses of brain and CSF have shown no significant difference in C. pneumoniae-specific DNA or antibody between MS and control subjects. Recent work has revealed intrathecal production of C. pneumoniae-specific IgG in only 24% of MS patients compared with 5% of control patients. More importantly, the major CSF oligoclonal bands from MS patients did not react to C. pneumoniae.
Insights
Research suggests Chlamydia pneumoniae may not be a cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). While some studies indicate an infectious link, evidence for Chlamydia pneumoniae
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unknown, despite epidemiological and twin studies suggesting an infectious cause.
- Previous research reported the isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients, with detected Chlamydia-specific DNA and antibodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and multiple sclerosis.
- To determine if Chlamydia pneumoniae is a causative agent in MS pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific DNA and antibodies in CSF and brain tissue of MS patients and controls.
- Detection of intrathecal production of Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific IgG.
- Examination of reactivity of CSF oligoclonal bands from MS patients to Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific DNA or antibody levels was found between MS patients and control subjects in brain and CSF analyses.
- Intrathecal production of Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific IgG was observed in a minority of MS patients (24%) compared to controls (5%).
- Major CSF oligoclonal bands from MS patients did not show reactivity to Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support Chlamydia pneumoniae as a significant causative agent in multiple sclerosis.
- The lack of strong evidence suggests that other infectious agents or factors may be involved in MS etiology.