Exploring Epstein Barr Virus Connection in Multiple Sclerosis Research: J. William Lindsey, MD

WATCH TIME: 10 minutes

“Our study highlights the intriguing connection between Epstein Barr Virus and multiple sclerosis, showcasing a significant prevalence of T cells in the spinal fluid specific for Epstein Barr Virus-infected cells."

Over several decades, research has shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, a herpesvirus that infects more than 90% of the population globally, is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system. A notable 2023 longitudinal study showed that MS risk is minimal in patients who were not infected with EBV and that it increased over 30-fold following EBV infection.¹ In past few years, many research studies have provided more evidence and direction on the underlying mechanisms of this connection, which may help to develop more targeted treatments for MS.

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated that T-cells specific for EBV-infected cells are present in high numbers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS at the earliest stages of the disease.² Senior author J. William Lindsey, MD, professor in the department of neurology with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and colleagues, collected blood and CSF samples from 8 patients in the process of MS diagnosis for the analysis. They stimulated cells from the patients’ blood with multiple stimuli and then used RNA sequencing for T-cell receptors to determine which of the stimuli the CSF T-cells were responding to.

Lindsey, who also serves as the Opal C. Rankin professor in neurology at the medical school, recently sat down in an interview with NeurologyLive® to discuss how the abundance of T cells specific for EBV-infected cells in the spinal fluid of patients with MS compare with T cells targeting other infections. He shared his insights on what the study provides into the potential role of T cells in the autoimmune response of MS, specifically those targeting EBV. In addition, Lindsey spoke about the next steps in the research, particularly regarding the investigation of B lymphocytes and the cellular activities of T cells in the spinal fluid of patients with MS.

REFERENCES
1. Bjornevik K, Münz C, Cohen JI, Ascherio A. Epstein-Barr virus as a leading cause of multiple sclerosis: mechanisms and implications. Nat Rev Neurol. 2023;19(3):160-171. doi:10.1038/s41582-023-00775-5
2. UTHealth Houston study: EBV-specific T-cells play key role in development of multiple sclerosis. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. News Release. Published January 8, 2024. Accessed January 8, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1030187