Infection and the etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Steiner, Israel; Nisipianu, Puiu; Wirguin, Itzhak

doi:10.1007/s11910-001-0030-x

Cited by 36 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Examination of the literature strongly suggests an infectious process in MS [1,55,56,79,80]. In most studies the more progressive forms of MS rather than the relapsing-remitting forms of MS were associated with chronic infections.…”

Section: Multiple Sclerosis (Ms)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurodegenerative and Fatiguing Illnesses, Infections and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Use of Natural Supplements to Improve Mitochondrial Function.

Nicolson

Settineri

Ellithorpe³

2014

FFHD

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Background: Many chronic diseases and illnesses are associated with one or more chronic infections, dysfunction of mitochondria and reduced production of ATP. This results in fatigue and other symptoms that occur in most if not all chronic conditions and diseases.Methods: This is a review of the published literature on chronic infections in neurodegenerative diseases and fatiguing illnesses that are also typified by mitochondrial dysfunction. This contribution also reviews the use of natural supplements to enhance mitochondrial function and reduce the effects of chronic infections to improve overall function in various chronic illnesses.Results: Mitochondrial function can be enhanced by the use of various natural supplements, notably Lipid Replacement Therapy (LRT) using glyerolphospholipids and other mitochondrial supplements. In various chronic illnesses that are characterized by the presence of chronic infections, such as intracellular bacteria (Mycoplasma, Borrelia, Chlamydia and other infections) and viruses, LRT has proven useful in multiple clinical trials. For example, in clinical studies on chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome and other chronic fatiguing illnesses where a large majority of patients have chronic infections, LRT significantly reduced fatigue by 35-43% in different clinical trials and increased mitochondrial function. In clinical trials on patients with multiple intracellular bacterial infections and intractable fatigue LRT plus other mitochondrial supplements significantly decreased fatigue and improved mood and cognition.Conclusions: LRT formulations designed to improve mitochondrial function appear to be useful as non-toxic dietary supplements for reducing fatigue and restoring mitochondrial and other cellular membrane functions in patients with chronic illnesses and multiple chronic infections. BackgroundPatients with chronic neurodegenerative, neurobehavioral and fatiguing illnesses commonly test positive for systemic and central nervous system (CNS) bacterial and viral infections [1][2][3]. In addition, other chronic illnesses where neurological manifestations are routinely found, such as autoimmune diseases and other chronic illnesses and disorders, also show evidence of systemic bacterial and viral infections that could be important in disease inception, progression and/or enhancing the types and severities of signs and symptoms [2,3].Evidence of bacterial infections, such as Mycoplasma species, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, among others, and viruses, such as human herpesvirus (HHV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes viruses (HHV) and other viral infections, have revealed high rates of infection in the illnesses listed above that were not found in control populations [1][2][3]. Although the specific roles of chronic infections in various diseases and their pathogeneses have not been carefully determined, the data suggest that chronic bacterial and/or viral infections are common features of essentially all progressive chronic diseases [1][2][3].An...

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Section: Multiple Sclerosis (Ms)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurodegenerative and Fatiguing Illnesses, Infections and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Use of Natural Supplements to Improve Mitochondrial Function.

Nicolson

Settineri

Ellithorpe³

2014

FFHD

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“…On this basis, at least 12 candidate infections, including measles and varicella, could have an association with MS [7–9, 27]. Problems of interpretation of such findings are illustrated by herpes simplex.…”

Section: Are Exogenous Viruses and Chlamydia Involved In The Pathomentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Sclerosis: Are Protective Immune Mechanisms Compromised by a Complex Infectious Background?

Krone

Grange

2011

Autoimmune Diseases

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The immunological background of multiple sclerosis (MS) manifests as an altered reactivity against a diverse range of infections, particularly with the Epstein-Barr virus. Although this could be only an epiphenomenon of a more generalised dysfunction of the immune system in MS, it is also possible that a complex infectious background forms the basis of a specific immune dysregulation finally causing the disease. It is thus suggested that the complex infectious background bears the key for an understanding of the immune pathogenesis of the disease. It appears probable that improved standards of hygiene cause regulatory defects in the immune system, allowing the abnormal expression of human endogenous retroviral (HERV) genes. On the basis of epidemiological observations we describe how a failure of expansion or an eclipse of a subfraction of self-antigen-specific CD8+ T cells mediating immune repair, and a deleterious mode of action of HERV gene products, could underlie the pathogenesis of MS.

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“…115). For example, data exist for seasonal variation in the incidence of new cases, and the disease is more prevalent in high northern latitudes than elsewhere ( Refs 115,116). Furthermore, extensive studies by Kurtzke and co-workers also support infectious involvement in this disease in the Faroe Islands (Refs 64, 65).…”

Section: Aetiological Agent(s)?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular mimicry and horror autotoxicus: do chlamydial infections elicit autoimmunity?

Swanborg

Boros

Whittum-Hudson

et al. 2006

Expert Rev. Mol. Med.

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All species of the order Chlamydiales are obligate intracellular eubacterial pathogens of their various hosts. Two chlamydial species, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae, are primarily human pathogens, and each is known to cause important diseases. Some strains of C. trachomatis are sexually transmitted and frequently cause severe reproductive problems, primarily in women. Other strains of the organism serve as the aetiological agents for blinding trachoma, still the leading cause of preventable blindness in underdeveloped nations. C. pneumoniae is a respiratory pathogen known to cause community-acquired pneumonia. Importantly, both organisms engender an immunopathogenic response in the human host, and both have been associated with widely diverse, relatively common and currently idiopathic chronic diseases, most of which include an important autoimmune component. In this article, we explore the available experimental data regarding the possible elicitation of autoimmunity in various contexts by chlamydial infection, and we suggest several avenues for research to explore this potentially important issue further.

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Infection and the etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Cited by 36 publications

References 49 publications

Neurodegenerative and Fatiguing Illnesses, Infections and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Use of Natural Supplements to Improve Mitochondrial Function.

Neurodegenerative and Fatiguing Illnesses, Infections and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Use of Natural Supplements to Improve Mitochondrial Function.

Multiple Sclerosis: Are Protective Immune Mechanisms Compromised by a Complex Infectious Background?

Molecular mimicry and horror autotoxicus: do chlamydial infections elicit autoimmunity?

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