Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have made significant progress in understanding how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could trigger or worsen multiple sclerosis (MS).
The findings, published in Science Advances, reveal that antibodies created to combat the virus in some people may inadvertently attack a protein present in the brain and spinal cord, thus causing harm.
EBV is a type of herpesvirus that most people contract early in life. It stays latent within the body, often without causing symptoms.
More than 90% of the global population carries this virus for life. The link between EBV and the neurological disorder MS was identified several years ago, but the specifics of this relationship have puzzled researchers.
The team at Karolinska Institutet studied blood samples from over 700 MS patients and 700 healthy individuals.
They found that antibodies developed to bind to a specific protein in the Epstein-Barr virus, known as EBNA1, could also attach to a similar protein in the brain and spinal cord called CRYAB.
This protein helps prevent protein aggregation during conditions of cellular stress, such as inflammation.
The antibodies, which should be fighting the infection, may instead mistakenly target the brain and spinal cord, leading to damage that could trigger severe symptoms in MS patients, including balance issues, mobility problems, and fatigue.
These cross-reactive antibodies were discovered in approximately 23% of MS patients and 7% of the control group.
The research team also noted that a likely similar cross-reactivity might occur among T cells of the immune system.
Future investigations aim to explore how T cells combat EBV infection and how these immune cells may damage the nervous system in MS, contributing to disease progression.
The study provides promising insights into the complex relationship between EBV and MS and might potentially lead to the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies for the treatment of MS.
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