We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Download Mobile App




More Evidence for Epstein - Barr virus' Role in MS Found

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Nov 2022

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common virus that causes glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), usually in teenagers and young adults. More...

It has been proposed as a possible trigger for multiple sclerosis, and is also implicated in some cancers.

A number of other viruses have been investigated, including chicken pox, measles, mumps, canine distemper and a number of herpes viruses. However, if there is a particular virus or combination of viruses that trigger multiple sclerosis (MS), the exact mechanism still has to be identified.

Medical Scientists at the University of Münster (Münster, Germany) sequenced the T-cell receptor variable beta-chain (TRBV) peripheral repertoire among three cohorts of MS patients: A discovery cohort with 1,336 patients with MS and 229 controls; a validation cohort with 59 patients with MS and 51 controls; and 35 monozygotic twins who were discordant for MS.

The investigators identified sequences known to bind to EBV, SARS-CoV-2, cytomegalovirus, and influenza A, and used the latter three viruses as a proof of concept to demonstrate the validity of the approach. EBV-specific MHC-1 restricted CD8 TRBV in the serum of MS patients, with large effect sizes in the discovery (+2.2), validation (+2.1), and MS twin (+1.6) populations. The findings in the twin population rule out a genetic or environmental explanation for the findings in the discovery and validation cohorts. They also sequenced CSF among six healthy donors and five patients with MS and found significant differences. The T-cell populations had more lytic properties that suggested ongoing immune surveillance.

Tilman Schneider-Hohendorf, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow and lead author of the study, said, “We can conclude that we found a broader response that could indicate an aberrant immune response. This could be a remnant of disease triggering an event or it could indicate an ongoing immune response to EBV. Is this EBV activity? We really don't know. To find out, we would expand our pathogen-specific sequences, we would assess CNS tissue and lesions, and we would define the primary response in pediatric cohorts to better understand what might go wrong.”

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis held October 26 to 28, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Related Links:
University of Münster


New
Gold Member
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Test
ULTRA-TSH
Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
New
Vasculitis Diagnostic Test
AESKULISA Vasculitis-Screen
New
Myocardial Infarction Test
Finecare cTn I/NT-proBNP Rapid Quantitative Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The POC device rapidly predicts neonatal respiratory disease at birth in the NICU (Photo courtesy of SIME Diagnostics)

AI-Powered Lung Maturity Test Identifies Newborns at Higher Risk of Respiratory Distress

Each year, approximately 300,000 babies in the United States are born between 32 and 36 weeks' gestation, according to national health data. This group is at an elevated risk for respiratory distress,... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The new study findings emphasize the need for incorporating disease heterogeneity into type 2 diabetes care strategies (Photo courtesy of Cell 2025; doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.00)

Molecular Fingerprint for Insulin Sensitivity Could Diagnose Diabetes Before Disease Develops

Insulin is a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar levels, and its dysfunction is a key factor in the development of diabetes. Insulin resistance, a condition where the body's cells do not respond... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Results of AI-based 3D virtual H&E staining and quantitative analysis of pathological tissue (Photo courtesy of Nature Communications, DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-59820-0)

Virtual Staining Technology Paves Way for Non-Invasive Pathological Diagnosis

For more than 200 years, traditional pathology has depended on the technique of examining cancer tissues under a microscope, a method that provides only limited, specific cross-sections of the 3D structure... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Concept of biosensor integrated into hygiene pads enabling direct semi-quantitative analysis of biomarkers in unprocessed menstruation blood (Photo courtesy of Dosnon, L et al. DOI: 10.1002/advs.202505170)

First Ever Technology Recognizes Disease Biomarkers Directly in Menstrual Blood in Sanitary Towels

Over 1.8 billion people menstruate worldwide, yet menstrual blood has been largely overlooked in medical practice. This blood contains hundreds of proteins, many of which correlate with their concentration... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.