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An altered immune response to Epstein-Barr virus in multiple sclerosis: a prospective study
P Sundström1, P Juto, G Wadell
1Department of Neurology, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden. peter.sundstrom@neuro.umu.se
Neurology
|June 24, 2004
Summary
Individuals developing multiple sclerosis (MS) show altered immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), specifically high EBNA-1 IgG activity without high VCA activity, preceding MS onset.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
- The role of viral infections, particularly human herpesviruses, in MS pathogenesis is an area of ongoing research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between human herpesviruses (Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], human herpesvirus 6 [HHV-6], herpes simplex virus [HSV], varicella zoster virus [VZV]) and measles virus with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of IgG antibody responses to various viruses in serum samples from MS cases and matched controls.
- Utilized prospectively and retrospectively collected serum samples from population-based registers.
Main Results:
- All MS cases showed evidence of past EBV infection.
- High IgG activity to EBV EBNA-1 and HHV-6 was associated with an increased risk of MS.
- A specific pattern of high EBNA-1 and low VCA activity was observed in MS samples collected within 5 years of disease onset.
- No significant association was found for HSV, VZV, or measles viruses.
Conclusions:
- An altered immune response to EBV, characterized by high EBNA-1 IgG activity without high VCA activity, is linked to the development of MS.
- This immune dysregulation is most apparent in the years preceding MS onset.
