Researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet have made significant advancements in understanding how the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) could trigger or worsen multiple sclerosis (MS).
Their study, published in Science Advances, examines how certain individuals’ antibodies against EBV mistakenly attack a protein in the brain and spinal cord.
Epstein-Barr Virus: A Global Concern
EBV is a type of herpesvirus that infects most people early in life and remains dormant in the body, usually without any symptoms.
As one of the most common viruses affecting humans, EBV infects over 90% of the global population, staying with them for life as a latent, often asymptomatic infection.
Typically contracted in childhood, EBV doesn’t usually present severe symptoms; however, in young adults, it can cause infectious mononucleosis, also known as glandular fever or the “kissing disease”.
The Link between Epstein-Barr Virus and Multiple Sclerosis
The association between EBV and the neurological disease MS was discovered several years ago, but the nature of this relationship has baffled researchers.
A growing body of evidence, including two papers published in Science and Nature last year, suggests that an EBV infection often precedes MS and that antibodies against the virus may play a role.
However, the molecular mechanisms seem to vary among patients and are largely unexplored.
“MS is an incredibly complex disease, but our study provides an important piece in the puzzle and could explain why some people develop the disease,” said Olivia Thomas, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, and a shared first author of the paper.
Misdirected Antibodies and Their Role
Thomas and her team analyzed blood samples from more than 700 MS patients and 700 healthy individuals.
They found that antibodies binding to a specific protein in EBV, EBNA1, could also latch onto a similar protein in the brain and spinal cord called CRYAB.
This protein prevents protein aggregation during cellular stress conditions, such as inflammation.
These cross-reactive antibodies could mistakenly target the brain and spinal cord instead of fighting the infection, causing damage.
This process could lead to severe symptoms in MS patients, including balance issues, mobility problems, and fatigue. These antibodies were found in about 23% of MS patients and 7% of the control group.
“This shows that, while these antibody responses are not required for disease development, they may be involved in disease in up to a quarter of MS patients,” Thomas added.
This discovery emphasizes the significant variation among patients and the importance of personalized therapies.
Looking Ahead: Investigating the Role of T Cells
The researchers also found potential similar cross-reactivity among T cells of the immune system.
Mattias Bronge, an affiliated researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, and a shared first author of the paper, stated, “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.”
This study provides promising insights into the complex relationship between EBV and MS, potentially guiding the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies.
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