From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis

Abstract Therapy for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) has advanced dramatically despite incomplete understanding of the cause of the condition. Current treatment involves inducing broad effects on immune cell populations with consequent off‐target side effects, and no treatment can comple...

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Main Authors: Zoe Dyer, David Tscharke, Ian Sutton, Jennifer Massey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Clinical & Translational Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1437
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author Zoe Dyer
David Tscharke
Ian Sutton
Jennifer Massey
author_facet Zoe Dyer
David Tscharke
Ian Sutton
Jennifer Massey
author_sort Zoe Dyer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Therapy for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) has advanced dramatically despite incomplete understanding of the cause of the condition. Current treatment involves inducing broad effects on immune cell populations with consequent off‐target side effects, and no treatment can completely prevent disability progression. Further therapeutic advancement will require a better understanding of the pathobiology of MS. Interest in the role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in multiple sclerosis has intensified based on strong epidemiological evidence of an association between EBV seroprevalence and MS. Hypotheses proposed to explain the biological relationship between EBV and MS include molecular mimicry, EBV immortalised autoreactive B cells and infection of glial cells by EBV. Examining the interaction between EBV and immunotherapies that have demonstrated efficacy in MS offers clues to the validity of these hypotheses. The efficacy of B cell depleting therapies could be consistent with a hypothesis that EBV‐infected B cells drive MS; however, loss of T cell control of B cells does not exacerbate MS. A number of MS therapies invoke change in EBV‐specific T cell populations, but pathogenic EBV‐specific T cells with cross‐reactivity to CNS antigen have not been identified. Immune reconstitution therapies induce EBV viraemia and expansion of EBV‐specific T cell clones, but this does not correlate with relapse. Much remains unknown regarding the role of EBV in MS pathogenesis. We discuss future translational research that could fill important knowledge gaps.
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spelling doaj.art-7e9af3072a054273b500ad15dd7a62c42023-02-27T14:52:26ZengWileyClinical & Translational Immunology2050-00682023-01-01122n/an/a10.1002/cti2.1437From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosisZoe Dyer0David Tscharke1Ian Sutton2Jennifer Massey3Blood Stem Cell and Cancer Research Group, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research Darlinghurst NSW AustraliaJohn Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaSt. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine University of New South Wales (UNSW) Darlinghurst NSW AustraliaBlood Stem Cell and Cancer Research Group, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research Darlinghurst NSW AustraliaAbstract Therapy for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) has advanced dramatically despite incomplete understanding of the cause of the condition. Current treatment involves inducing broad effects on immune cell populations with consequent off‐target side effects, and no treatment can completely prevent disability progression. Further therapeutic advancement will require a better understanding of the pathobiology of MS. Interest in the role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in multiple sclerosis has intensified based on strong epidemiological evidence of an association between EBV seroprevalence and MS. Hypotheses proposed to explain the biological relationship between EBV and MS include molecular mimicry, EBV immortalised autoreactive B cells and infection of glial cells by EBV. Examining the interaction between EBV and immunotherapies that have demonstrated efficacy in MS offers clues to the validity of these hypotheses. The efficacy of B cell depleting therapies could be consistent with a hypothesis that EBV‐infected B cells drive MS; however, loss of T cell control of B cells does not exacerbate MS. A number of MS therapies invoke change in EBV‐specific T cell populations, but pathogenic EBV‐specific T cells with cross‐reactivity to CNS antigen have not been identified. Immune reconstitution therapies induce EBV viraemia and expansion of EBV‐specific T cell clones, but this does not correlate with relapse. Much remains unknown regarding the role of EBV in MS pathogenesis. We discuss future translational research that could fill important knowledge gaps.https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1437disease‐modifying therapyEpstein–Barr virusmultiple sclerosistranslational immunology
spellingShingle Zoe Dyer
David Tscharke
Ian Sutton
Jennifer Massey
From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
Clinical & Translational Immunology
disease‐modifying therapy
Epstein–Barr virus
multiple sclerosis
translational immunology
title From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
title_full From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
title_fullStr From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
title_short From bedside to bench: how existing therapies inform the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis
title_sort from bedside to bench how existing therapies inform the relationship between epstein barr virus and multiple sclerosis
topic disease‐modifying therapy
Epstein–Barr virus
multiple sclerosis
translational immunology
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1437
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