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Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
Published on: August 21, 2017
Protective environmental factors for neuromyelitis optica
Jennifer Graves1, Siri Grandhe2, Kelley Weinfurtner2
1From the Department of Neurology (J.G., K.W., E.W.), University of California, San Francisco; Virginia Commonwealth Medical School (S.G.); Lourie Center for Pediatric MS (L.K., A.B.), Stony Brook Children's Hospital, NY; Partners MS Center (T.C.), Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School; UAB Center for Pediatric Onset Demyelinating Disease (J.N.), Children's Hospital of Alabama; Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center (B.W.-G.), Jacobs Neurological Institute, SUNY Buffalo, NY; Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Related Diseases Program (M.G.), Boston Children's Hospital, MA; Mayo Clinic's Pediatric MS Center (M.P., M.R.), Rochester, MN; Blue Bird Circle Multiple Sclerosis Center (T.L.), Texas Children's Hospital, Houston; Pediatric MS Center at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (G.A.), CA; Multiple Sclerosis Center (E.M.M.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Pediatrics (J.W.R., T.S., T.C.C.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (J.J.), Oklahoma City; and Department of Pediatrics (E.W.), UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Jennifer.Graves@ucsf.edu.
Early childhood exposure to daycare and breastfeeding may protect against neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in children. Unlike multiple sclerosis (MS), NMO risk is not linked to common herpes virus infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Immunology
- Environmental epidemiology
Background:
- Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Understanding early-life risk factors for pediatric NMO is crucial for prevention and early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early environmental exposures and the risk of developing pediatric NMO.
- To compare these risk factors with those for pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving pediatric patients with NMO, MS, and healthy controls.
- Standardized questionnaires collected data on early-life exposures.
- ELISA determined antibody responses to herpes viruses; logistic regression analyzed associations.
Main Results:
- Daycare attendance and breastfeeding were associated with significantly lower odds of NMO.
- Cesarean delivery showed a trend towards increased NMO odds.
- No association was found between NMO and Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, or herpes simplex virus 1 exposure.
Conclusions:
- Exposure to other children in early life may be protective against pediatric NMO, similar to MS.
- Unlike MS, pediatric NMO does not appear to be linked to common herpes virus infections.
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