Virus Epstein-Barr (EBV)
The Epstein-Barr virus, common and causing infectious mononucleosis, or “kissing disease”, triggers an immune system reaction that can damage the brain and contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis.
The hypothesis that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) cause multiple sclerosis It has been studied for years by several scientific groups.
Now, the new research, carried out by scientists from the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and this Tuesday in the magazine Cellprovided new data confirming the link between the two diseases.
Almost three million people worldwide have multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory disease with no cure, in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, damaging neurons and the spinal cord.
You know-I know that Everyone who develops multiple sclerosis has had infectious mononucleosis, or “kissing disease.”caused by a virus that generally infects young people and often has no symptoms.
However, how this virus contributes to multiple sclerosis is not yet clear.
New discovery confirms old theory
The new study showed that, When the immune system fights the Epstein-Barr virus, certain T cells — which normally attack the virus — can also react and attack a brain protein, anoctamine-2 (ANO2).
This phenomenon, called molecular mimicrycauses immune cells to confuse the body’s own proteins with those of the virus.
The team also found that these cross-reactive T cells are significantly more common in people with multiple sclerosis than in healthy individuals.
“Our results provide mechanistic evidence that immune responses to the virus can directly damage the brain in multiple sclerosis. This is a complex neurological disease and the molecular mechanisms may vary between patients”, highlighted the first author of the study, Olivia Thomasfrom the Institute’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience.
The study built on previous research showing that misdirected antibodies following Epstein-Barr virus infection may play a significant role in the development of multiple sclerosis.
To confirm this, the team analyzed blood samples from people with multiple sclerosis and compared them with those from healthy individuals.
Investigators managed to isolate T cells that react to both the virus’s EBNA1 and ANO2 proteins in people with multiple sclerosis.
Furthermore, experiments in mice have shown that these cells can exacerbate multiple sclerosis-like symptoms and cause brain damage.
According to the authors, these results help explain why some people develop multiple sclerosis after an Epstein-Barr virus infection and others do not.
Although there is currently no effective way to prevent or treat Epstein-Barr virus infection, scientists believe that a vaccine against this virus or the use of specific antiviral medications to combat it may help prevent or cure multiple sclerosis.
