In Sweden, scientists at the Karolinska Institute have produced further evidence of the commonly found Epstein-Barr virus leading to the development or escalation of Multiple Sclerosis in humans.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), one of the most commonly found viruses in humans, is a member of the herpes virus family. The Epstein-Barr virus can affect a person's blood and bone marrow.This can cause the body to produce an excessive number of white blood cells called lymphocytes (lymphocytosis). EBV can also weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight infection. The link between EBV and Multiple Sclerosis was discovered many years ago, yet has puzzled researchers ever since. The popularly known Science Advances scientific journal published a study that suggests particular individuals with the Epstein-Barr virus have antiviral antibodies that unintentionally target a protein in the brain and spinal cord.
Blood samples from more than 700 MS patients and 700 healthy patients were studied by the researchers. They discovered that antibodies that attach to the Epstein-Barr virus protein EBNA1 can also bind to the brain and spinal cord protein CRYAB, whose function is to inhibit protein aggregation under circumstances of cellular stress like inflammation. These misguided, cross-reactive antibodies may harm the neurological system and result in severe MS symptoms, such as balance, movement, and tiredness issues. In comparison to 7% of people in the control group, there were 23% more MS patients who had the antibodies.
“This shows that, whilst these antibody responses are not required for disease development, they may be involved in disease in up to a quarter of MS patients,” says Olivia Thomas. “This also demonstrates the high variation between patients, highlighting the need for personalized therapies. Current therapies are effective at reducing relapses in MS but unfortunately, none can prevent disease progression.”
The study's findings suggest that immune system T cells exhibit comparable cross-reactivity. “We are now expanding our research to investigate how T cells fight EBV infection and how these immune cells may damage the nervous system in multiple sclerosis and contribute to disease progression,” says Mattias Bronge, affiliated researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute.
All in all, this recent study has identified the initiation and progression of Multiple Sclerosis in patients who have contracted the Epstein-Barr virus. The very antibodies being produced by these patients to fight off the virus, are attaching to neural and spinal cord proteins which may result in the development of MS symptoms in patients.
Works Cited
Institute, Karolisnka. “How Can a Common Virus Cause Multiple Sclerosis? New Study
Explains.” SciTechDaily, 13 July 2023,
https://scitechdaily.com/how-can-a-common-virus-cause-multiple-sclerosis-new-study-ex
plains/?expand_article=1. Accessed 16 July 2023.
Leggett, Hadley, and Lawrence Steinman. “Study identifies how Epstein-Barr virus triggers
multiple sclerosis.” Stanford Medicine, 24 January 2022,
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2022/01/epstein-barr-virus-multiple-sclerosis.htm
l. Accessed 16 July 2023.
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