Viral pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis: A role for Epstein-Barr virus infection?

Amir-Hadi Maghzi; Monica Marta; Isabel Bosca; Masoud Etemadifar; Ruth Dobson; Cosimo Maggiore; Gavin Giovannoni; Ute-Christiane Meier

doi:10.1016/j.pathophys.2010.04.003

Viral pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis: A role for Epstein-Barr virus infection?

Pathophysiology. 2011 Feb;18(1):13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2010.04.003. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

Authors

Amir-Hadi Maghzi¹, Monica Marta, Isabel Bosca, Masoud Etemadifar, Ruth Dobson, Cosimo Maggiore, Gavin Giovannoni, Ute-Christiane Meier

Affiliation

¹ Neuroimmunology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience & Trauma, Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK; Isfahan Research Committee of Multiple Sclerosis (IRCOMS), Isfahan, Iran; Isfahan Neuroscience Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory demyelinating and degenerative disease of the CNS. The cause of MS is unknown but environmental risk factors are implicated in MS. Several viruses have been proposed as a trigger for MS, and lately Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has become the leading candidate. An infectious aetiology fits with a number of epidemiological observations in addition to the immunopathological features of the disease. In this review we will summarize the emerging evidence, which demonstrates a strong association between EBV infection and MS. The conundrum remains as to whether EBV is directly involved in the pathophysiology of MS, or alternatively if the immunopathology of MS somehow affects the regulation of EBV infection.