The Influence of Epstein-Barr virus infection on developing multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory-demyelinating disease. MS leads to the multifocal damage of the central nervous system, which causes the gradual deterioration of sensory, motor and cognitive functions. The etiology of this disease is not fully understood, but genetic and environmental factors (including the EBV infection) are suspected. In this review, we would like to summarize the state of knowledge over the effect of Epstein-Barr virus infection on developing multiple sclerosis. Infectious mononucleosis (IM) which is caused by EBV and MS have similar epidemiology: both diseases mainly affect people at a young age, geographical prevalence is also identical. There are many theories that explain the mechanism of the EBV involvement in the development of MS including: the migration of EBV-infected B cells into the Central Nervous System, the theory of molecular mimicry, the induction of αB-crystallin by EBV in lymphoid cells or cooperation of the EBV and other viruses in the development of MS. Observations by physicians from around the world suggest that EBV infection is a strong factor in the development of multiple sclerosis. Epstein-Barr virus is prevalent in the population. There are a lot of evidences that suggest its involvement in the development of multiple sclerosis. Prevention of EBV infection could potentially reduce the amount of cases of MS. However, more researches are needed to clearly confirm the involvement of EBV in the etiopathogenesis of developing MS.

Keywords

• Demyelinating Disease
• Autoimmune Disease
• Infectious disease
• Herpes viruses
• Infectious Mononucleosis
• Viral infection