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Epstein-Barr virus infection of human brain microvessel endothelial cells: a novel role in multiple sclerosis

Costanza Casiraghi1, Katerina Dorovini-Zis, Marc S Horwitz

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Journal of Neuroimmunology
|September 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects human blood-brain barrier cells, increasing inflammation and immune cell adherence. This finding models a key step in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, linking EBV to the autoimmune disease.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurological disease.
  • MS pathogenesis involves genetic and environmental factors.
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to MS onset, but mechanisms are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how EBV contributes to MS pathogenesis.
  • To model the initial steps of neuroinflammation in MS.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of human blood-brain barrier (BBB) cells with EBV.
  • Analysis of pro-inflammatory mediator production.
  • Assessment of immune cell adherence to infected BBB cells.

Main Results:

  • EBV successfully infected human BBB cells.
  • Infection led to increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
  • EBV-infected BBB cells showed enhanced immune cell adherence.

Conclusions:

  • EBV infection of BBB cells promotes neuroinflammation.
  • This process models a critical step in MS pathogenesis.
  • EBV may play a direct role in initiating MS autoimmunity.

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