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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Association of innate immune activation with latent epstein-barr virus in active MS lesions
Neurology, Volume 78, No. 1, Year 2012
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Description
Objective: To determine whether the activation of innate immune responses, which can be elicited by pathogenic and endogenous triggers, is associated with the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the multiple sclerosis (MS) brain. Methods: White matter postmortem MS (n = 10) and control tissue (n = 11) was analyzed for the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine interferon α (IFNα) by immunohistochemistry and for EBV by using the highly sensitive method of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization. Results: We detected overexpression of IFNα in active areas of white matter MS lesions but not in inactive MS lesions, normal-appearing white matter, or normal brains. The presence of IFNα in macrophages and microglia (expressing human leukocyte antigen class II) is suggestive of local production as part of an acute inflammatory process. Interestingly, EBERs were also specifically detected in areas where IFNα was overexpressed in these preselected active MS lesions. EBER+ cells were also found in CNS lymphoma and stroke cases, but were absent in other control brains. We next addressed a potential mechanism, e.g., the role of EBERs in eliciting IFNα production, and transfected EBERs into human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. We used HEK cells that stably expressed Toll-like receptor-3, which recognizes double-stranded RNAs, associated with many viral infections. EBERs elicited IFNα production in vitro. Conclusion: These findings suggest that latent EBV infection may contribute to the inflammatory milieu in active MS lesions by activating innate immune responses, e.g., IFNα production. Unraveling the underlying mechanisms may help in uncovering causal pathways and developing better treatment strategies for MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2012 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Tzartos, J. S.
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Greece, Athens
Hellenic Pasteur Institute
Khan, Gulfaraz
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
United Arab Emirates University
Vossenkamper, A.
United Kingdom, London
Queen Mary University of London
Cruz-Sadaba, M.
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Ceu San Pablo
Lonardi, Silvia
Italy, Brescia
Università Degli Studi Di Brescia
Sefia, Eseberuo
United Kingdom, London
Queen Mary University of London
Meager, Anthony
United Kingdom, Hertfordshire
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
Elia, Androulla
United Kingdom, London
St George's Hospital
Middeldorp, J. M.
Netherlands, Amsterdam
Amsterdam Umc - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Clemens, M.
United Kingdom, Brighton
University of Sussex
Farrell, Paul J.
United Kingdom, London
Imperial College Faculty of Medicine
Giovannoni, Gavin
United Kingdom, London
Queen Mary University of London
Meier, Ute Christiane
United Kingdom, London
Queen Mary University of London
Statistics
Citations: 130
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 11
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1212/WNL.0b013e31823ed057
ISSN:
00283878
e-ISSN:
1526632X
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Noncommunicable Diseases