Epstein-Barr virus persistence and reactivation in neuromyelitis optica. Issue 10 (28th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masuda, Saeko; Mori, Masahiro; Arai, Kimihito; Uzawa, Akiyuki; Muto, Mayumi; Uchida, Tomohiko; Masuda, Hiroki; Kuwabara, Satoshi
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 86:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 1137
• Page End: 1142
• Publication Date: 2014-11-28
• Subjects: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS -- NEUROIMMUNOLOGY; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-308095
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been thought to be a key environmental factor in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to investigate the association of EBV infection with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Methods: We measured levels of serum antibodies against EBV antigens, including anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, anti-VCA IgG, anti-early antigen (EA) IgM, anti-EA IgG and anti-EBV nuclear antigen-1 IgG, in 50 patients with NMO (including 12 partial form with antiaquaporin 4 antibodies), 51 patients with MS, and 52 healthy controls, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies in 37 patients with NMO and 33 patients with MS with ELISA. Result: Compared with patients with MS and normal participants, patients with NMO more frequently had serum anti-EA IgG antibodies (52%), indicating more active viral replication than patients with MS (26%) and controls (25%). The antibody titres were significantly higher in the NMO group than in the MS (p=0.005) and control (p=0.005) groups. The CSF antibody titres were also higher in patients with NMO than in those with MS (p=0.03). Conclusions: Our results raise the hypothesis that persistent, active EBV replication is present in NMO, and may contribute to the immunological alterations that play a pathogenetic role in the disorder.