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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Perfluorinated substances, risk factors for multiple sclerosis and cellular immune activation
Cecilie Ammitzbøll1, Lars Börnsen1, Eva Rosa Petersen1
1Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFASs) have immunomodulatory effects but the impact on multiple sclerosis (MS) and cellular immune functions is only sparsely described. In the present study, we found lower concentrations of the long chain PFAS perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in MS than in healthy controls (HC). In HC, we did not detect associations between PFOS concentrations and immune phenotypes. Analyzing the impact of known MS risk factors on cellular immune functions, we found that smoking and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 antibodies were associated with distinct circulating immune cell changes. In summary, current background PFAS exposure is not an important risk factor for MS.
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