Humoral immune response to EBV in multiple sclerosis is associated with disease activity on MRI

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) plays a role in triggering or perpet-

No association of multiple sclerosis activity and progression with EBV or tobacco use in BENEFIT

“…Three prior studies examining EBV and MS activity and/or progression among patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) (first neurologic event suggestive of MS) suggest there is no association with conversion to MS, but have shown mixed results regarding activity and progression. [2][3][4] Two studies on the effects of smoking and CIS report conflicting results regarding the association between smoking and conversion to clinically definite MS. 2,5 In this study, we examined whether serum levels of anti-EBV IgG antibodies or cotinine, a marker of tobacco use, are associated with early MS disease activity and progression among †Deceased. participants in the Betaferon/Betaseron in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis for Initial Treatment (BENEFIT) clinical trial, a cohort of patients who were enrolled and randomized to receive either interferon beta-1b or placebo soon after experiencing a CIS.…”

Mapping the effects of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis

“…In this pilot study, we found a decrease of anti-EBNA-1 IgG, but not of total IgG levels or any change in B cell differentiation profile in general after 12-week high-dose vitamin D 3 supplements in RRMS [190,195] . The consistent findings of anti-EBNA-1 IgG reductions upon vitamin D in (early) MS are clinically relevant, especially since several but not all studies showed that higher anti-EBNA-1 IgG levels predict a higher risk of active MRI-lesions in RRMS [215][216][217][218] . Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that the reduction in anti-EBNA-1 IgG is instrumental for the vitamin D-associated reduction of active MRI-lesions in the SOLAR trial [95] .…”

“…Higher anti-EBNA-1 immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels are associated with an increased risk of MS [213] , and in some but not all studies with a higher probability of conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to clinically definite MS [214] . Several but not all studies found associations between anti-EBNA-1 antibodies and neurological disability [214][215] as well as disease activity and cortical atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [215][216][217][218] .…”

“…These are consistent findings, since also Røsjø et al reported highly comparable results from their vitamin D supplementation trial [221] . These findings add evidence to the intriguing idea that there is an interaction between vitamin D and EBV in MS. Also, since lower anti-EBNA-1 antibody levels have previously been associated with less MS MRI activity [216][217][218] , it is tempting to speculate that the reduction in anti-EBNA-1 titers by vitamin D underlies the reduction in disease activity on MRI in the SOLAR trial. It most certainly raises questions, both old and new ones.…”

Paramètres cliniques, biochimiques et d’imagerie prédictifs de I’ évolution de la sclérose en plaques

“…il y a un besoin de valider les possibles biomarqueurs. durant ces dernières années, beaucoup d'anticorps ont été évoqués comme des biomarqueurs possibles, pour finalement constater qu'ils n'étaient pas fiables dans les évaluations cliniques ultérieures [75][76][77][78] . Récemment, un anticorps dirigé contre un canal potassique exprimé dans le système nerveux central (SNc) a été décrit chez plus ou moins 50 % de patients atteints de SEP et chez moins de 1 % dans les groupes contrôles.…”