Dysregulated Epstein-Barr virus infection in the MS brain
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous B-lymphotropic herpesvirus, has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), but direct proof of its involvement in the disease is still missing. To test the idea that MS might result from perturbed EBV infection in the CNS, researchers investigated expression of EBV markers in postmortem brain tissue from MS cases with different clinical courses.
Contrary to previous studies, they found evidence of EBV infection in a substantial proportion of brain-infiltrating B cells and plasma cells in nearly 100% of the MS cases examined (21 of 22), but not in other inflammatory neurological diseases.
Whether homing of EBV-infected B cells to the CNS is a primary event in MS development or the consequence of a still unknown disease-related process, they interpret these findings as evidence that EBV persistence and reactivation in the CNS play an important role in MS immunopathology.
What will it take for this
What will it take for this to become accepted as a cause of MS? It is a result which should be reproduced and further investigated. Can the MS blood you have collected be used for this? My sibling was treated for CLL with a marrow transplant and monoclonal antibodies, necessary in people whose immune cells are infected. Are MS patients not also such people?
Infected B and T Cells with an affinity for myelin. Maybe in this version of these cells, when some have already passed into the CNS, there is no easy access to blood, and myelin is the only easy source of food or energy for these invaders.
The results from this
The results from this research look pretty convincing. There is now quite a bit of research linking EBV and MS. I think we shall see more EBV / MS research reported in 2008. Professor Giovannoni in the UK is being funded to examine MS and EBV and his work should be completed by mid-year. In Australia, Professor Pender is examining the link. And in the US Alberto Acherio is continues his research in this area. There are, no doubt, many others looking at this. I'm not sure what can be done if EBV is proven to be the cause / trigger for relapses etc. There isn't an EBV vaccine as yet and I'm unsure if anti-virals have any effect. I'm guessing that if the EBV infected B cells are controlled (say by B cell depleting treatments such as Rituximab)then this should have a positive effect. It's all gone very quiet on the Rituximab trial results - I'm hoping to hear something early in the New Year.
I had high EBV titers for
I had high EBV titers for over 10 years before my MS got diagnosed. Doctors were treating me for Chronic Fatique Syndrome. My ANA titer was sky high, as well. Couldn't these be red flags for MS, thus making early treatment and possibly prevention of further dammage? At the time, my MRI did not show enough lessions to warrant a spinal tap or further treatment. I took a homeopathic route and seemed to stave off the progression of the disease for a short time while trying to strengthen my immune system. ~~MV