Two researchers have shed light on the potential link between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease affecting the central nervous system. The study suggests that T-cells from EBV could be contributing to this disease.
J. William Lindsey, MD at UTHealth Houston, shared his insights on the findings. "This work demonstrates that T-cells specific for LCL are present in the cerebrospinal fluid at the earliest stages of disease," he stated. Lindsey further suggested, "This strongly suggests that these T-cells are either causing the disease or contributing to it in some way." He concluded by revealing ongoing research efforts: "We have experiments in progress to define what these cells may be doing."
EBV is widely known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis (mono). This virus, part of the herpes family, is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva. Despite over ninety-five percent of people being infected with EBV at some point, many never experience any serious symptoms or complications from the infection. On the other hand, multiple sclerosis is an incurable disease that impacts over 1.8 million people worldwide, with some losing their ability to walk due to its detrimental effects. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has established a connection between these two seemingly unrelated illnesses, according to a news release from UTHealth Houston.
In this study, researchers analyzed blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from eight patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. They exposed these samples to various stimuli including EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), influenza virus, cell-free EBV, and candida to observe how T-cells in the cerebrospinal fluid would respond. Assaf Gottlieb, PhD and first author of the study said: "We saw a clear signal of enrichment of T-cells specific for LCL in the cerebrospinal fluid from the multiple sclerosis patients. This pattern was very different from what we observed in other neurologic diseases, suggesting it is unique to multiple sclerosis."
Gottlieb and Lindsey found that individuals with multiple sclerosis had a high number of T-cells correlated with EBV-infected cells in their cerebrospinal fluid. The increased presence of these T-cells indicates that EBV triggers an immune response that could either cause or contribute to multiple sclerosis. The findings of this study represent a significant step towards understanding more about this currently incurable disease, according to a news release from UTHealth Houston.
