Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The impact of viral infections on disease susceptibility and progression has predominantly been studied in patients with relapse-onset MS (RMS). Here, we determined immune responses to ubiquitous viruses in patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS). METHODS: Antibody responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), specifically to the latent EBV nuclear antigen 1 and the lytic viral capsid antigen VCA, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and measles virus were determined in a cohort of 68 PPMS patients with a mean follow-up of 8 years and compared with 66 healthy controls matched for sex and age. RESULTS: Compared with controls, PPMS patients showed increased humoral immune responses to the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1), but not to the lytic EBV capsid antigen (VCA) or to other viral antigens. Seroprevalence rates for HCMV were significantly higher in PPMS. Antiviral immune responses at baseline did not correlate with disability progression over time. DISCUSSION: Elevated immune responses toward EBNA1 are selectively increased in people with primary progressive disease, indicating a link between EBNA1-targeting immune responses and the development of both RMS and PPMS. Our data also suggest that chronic HCMV infection is associated with progressive MS.
Source: Journal of Neurology
Authors: Manuel Comabella, Harald Hegen, Luisa M. Villar, Konrad Rejdak, Augusto Sao-Avilés, Malina Behrens, Jaume Sastre-Garriga, Neus Mongay, Klaus Berek, Sergio Martínez-Yelamos, Francisco Pérez-Miralles, Ahmed Abdelhak, Franziska Bachhuber, Hayrettin Tumani, Jan Lycke, Pere Carbonell-Mirabent, Adrián Valls-Carbó, Igal Rosenstein, Roberto Alvarez-Lafuente, Tamara Castillo-Triviño, David Otaegui, Sara Llufriu, Yolanda Blanco, Antonio J. Sánchez-López, Antonio García-Merino, Nicolás Fissolo, Lucía Gutiérrez, Javier Villacieros-Álvarez, Enric Monreal, Heinz Wiendl, Xavier Montalban, Jan D. Lünemann
Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, Innsbruck Medical University, Universität Innsbruck, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Medical University of Lublin, University of Münster, University Hospital Münster, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, University of California, San Francisco, Universität Ulm, University of Gothenburg, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Donostiako Unibertsitate Ospitalea, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona, Universidad de Alcalá
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,590
OpenAlex ID: W4405323747