PMID: 16635422Apr 26, 2006Paper

The role of EBV in MS pathogenesis

International MS Journal
Tove Christensen

Abstract

Environmental factors operate on a background of genetic susceptibility in the pathogenesis of MS. Human herpesviruses, notably Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human endogenous retroviruses are factors associated with MS. EBV association is found in epidemiological surveys where late EBV infection confers a higher risk of MS, and EBV reactivation also appears to be linked to disease activity in early MS. MS patients have elevated anti-EBV antibody responses, both in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Molecular mimicry is found between certain EBV and myelin epitopes in the cell-mediated immune response. EBV cannot stand alone as a causal factor of MS, but is likely to play an indirect role as an activator of the underlying disease process.

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