Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease that develops as an interplay between the immune system and environmental stimuli in genetically susceptible individuals. There is increasing evidence that viruses may play a role in MS pathogenesis acting as these environmental triggers. However, it is not known if any single virus is causal, or rather several viruses can act as triggers in disease development. Here, we review the association of different viruses to MS with an emphasis on two herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). These two agents have generated the most impact during recent years as possible co-factors in MS disease development. The strongest argument for association of EBV with MS comes from the link between symptomatic infectious mononucleosis and MS and from seroepidemiological studies. In contrast to EBV, HHV-6 has been found significantly more often in MS plaques than in MS normal appearing white matter or non-MS brains and HHV-6 re-activation has been reported during MS clinical relapses. In this review we also suggest new strategies, including the development of new infectious animal models of MS and antiviral MS clinical trials, to elucidate roles of different viruses in the pathogenesis of this disease. Furthermore, we introduce the idea of using unbiased sequence-independent pathogen discovery methodologies, such as next generation sequencing, to study MS brain tissue or body fluids for detection of known viral sequences or potential novel viral agents.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, human herpesvirus 6, Epstein-Barr virus.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Viruses and Multiple Sclerosis
Volume: 11 Issue: 5
Author(s): Jussi Oskari Virtanen and Steve Jacobson
Affiliation:
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, human herpesvirus 6, Epstein-Barr virus.
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease that develops as an interplay between the immune system and environmental stimuli in genetically susceptible individuals. There is increasing evidence that viruses may play a role in MS pathogenesis acting as these environmental triggers. However, it is not known if any single virus is causal, or rather several viruses can act as triggers in disease development. Here, we review the association of different viruses to MS with an emphasis on two herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). These two agents have generated the most impact during recent years as possible co-factors in MS disease development. The strongest argument for association of EBV with MS comes from the link between symptomatic infectious mononucleosis and MS and from seroepidemiological studies. In contrast to EBV, HHV-6 has been found significantly more often in MS plaques than in MS normal appearing white matter or non-MS brains and HHV-6 re-activation has been reported during MS clinical relapses. In this review we also suggest new strategies, including the development of new infectious animal models of MS and antiviral MS clinical trials, to elucidate roles of different viruses in the pathogenesis of this disease. Furthermore, we introduce the idea of using unbiased sequence-independent pathogen discovery methodologies, such as next generation sequencing, to study MS brain tissue or body fluids for detection of known viral sequences or potential novel viral agents.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Oskari Virtanen Jussi and Jacobson Steve, Viruses and Multiple Sclerosis, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2012; 11 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661220
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661220 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infectious diseases
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) can be divided into bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, etc. Early etiological treatment is often the most crucial means to reduce the mortality rate of patients with central nervous system infections, reduce complications and sequelae, and improve prognosis. The initial clinical ...read more
Techniques of Drug Repurposing: Delivering a new life to Herbs & Drugs
Of late, with the adaptation of innovative approaches and integration of advancements made towards medical sciences as well as the availability of a wide range of tools; several therapeutic challenges are being translated into viable clinical solutions, with a high degree of efficacy, safety, and selectivity. With a better understanding ...read more
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Inhibitions of Positive-Sense (ss) RNA Viruses RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases
Current Enzyme Inhibition Assessment of Gene Transfer Using Imaging Methodology
Current Genomics The Roles of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tissue Repair and Disease Modification
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Neurological Aspects of Medical Use of Cannabidiol
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Immunoinformatic Approach for the Identification of Potential Epitopes Against <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i>: A Global Opportunistic Pathogen
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery CXCL8 as a Potential Therapeutic Target for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Current Drug Targets Pathways by Which Aβ Facilitates Tau Pathology
Current Alzheimer Research The 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) Inhibitor Zileuton Reduces Inflammation and Infarct Size with Improvement in Neurological Outcome Following Cerebral Ischemia
Current Neurovascular Research Herpes Simplex Virus Vectors for Gene Delivery to a Variety of Different Cell Types
Current Gene Therapy β-Catenin/TCF-4 Signaling Regulates Susceptibility of Macrophages and Resistance of Monocytes to HIV-1 Productive Infection
Current HIV Research PI3K-Akt Signaling and Viral Infection
Recent Patents on Biotechnology Genomic Databases and the Search of Protein Targets for Protozoan Parasites
Current Drug Targets Editorial [Hot Topic: Protein Peptide Informatics and Drug Designing - Some Computational Techniques for Structural Genomics Based Approaches (Part II) (Guest Editor: Rajani R. Joshi)]
Protein & Peptide Letters Identification of Uptake Mechanism of Cell-Penetrating Peptides by their Polar Profile
Current Bioinformatics Neurocysticercosis: The Enigmatic Disease
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Use of the Inhibitory Receptors for Modulating the Immune Responses
Current Pharmaceutical Design 3D Modeling of Dengue Virus NS4B and Chikungunya Virus nsP4: Identification of a Common Drug Target and Designing a Single Antiviral Inhibitor
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Beneficial Neurobiological Effects of Melatonin Under Conditions of Increased Oxidative Stress
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents Matrix Metalloproteinase Dependent Cleavage of Cell Adhesion Molecules in the Pathogenesis of CNS Dysfunction with HIV and Methamphetamine
Current HIV Research ADAM8/MS2/CD156, an Emerging Drug Target in the Treatment of Inflammatory and Invasive Pathologies
Current Pharmaceutical Design