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Review
. 2017 Feb 28;14(1):42.
doi: 10.1186/s12985-017-0719-3.

Multiple sclerosis: an example of pathogenic viral interaction?

Walter Fierz  1
Affiliations
Review

Multiple sclerosis: an example of pathogenic viral interaction?

Walter Fierz. Virol J. .

Abstract

A hypothesis is formulated on viral interaction between HHV-6A and EBV as a pathogenic mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Evidence of molecular and genetic mechanisms suggests a link between HHV-6A infection and EBV activation in the brain of MS patients leading to intrathecal B-cell transformation. Consequent T-cell immune response against the EBV-infected cells is postulated as a pathogenic basis for inflammatory lesion formation in the brain of susceptible individuals. A further link between HHV-6A and EBV involves their induction of expression of the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K18-encoded superantigen. Such virally induced T-cell responses might secondarily also lead to local autoimmune phenomena. Finally, research recommendations are formulated for substantiating the hypothesis on several levels: epidemiologically, genetically, and viral expression in the brain.

Keywords: EBNA-2; EBV; HERV-K18; HHV-6A; LMP1; MHC2TA; Multiple Sclerosis; RBPJ-kappa; Syncytin-1.

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