Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell driven autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite its association with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), how viral infections promote MS remains unclear. However, there is increasing evidence that the CNS is continuously surveyed by virus-specific T cells, which protect against reactivating neurotropic viruses. Here, we discuss how viral infections could lead to the breakdown of self-tolerance in genetically predisposed individuals, and how the reactivations of viruses in the CNS could induce the recruitment of both autoaggressive and virus-specific T cell subsets, causing relapses and progressive disability. A disturbed immune surveillance in MS would explain several experimental findings, and has important implications for prognosis and therapy.

The Enigmatic Role of Viruses in Multiple Sclerosis : Molecular Mimicry or Disturbed Immune Surveillance? / J. Geginat, M. Paroni, M. Pagani, D. Galimberti, R. De Francesco, E. Scarpini, S. Abrignani. - In: TRENDS IN IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 1471-4906. - 38:7(2017 Jul), pp. 498-512. [10.1016/j.it.2017.04.006]

The Enigmatic Role of Viruses in Multiple Sclerosis : Molecular Mimicry or Disturbed Immune Surveillance?

J. Geginat;M. Paroni
Secondo
;
M. Pagani;D. Galimberti;R. De Francesco;E. Scarpini
Penultimo
;
S. Abrignani
Ultimo
2017

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell driven autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite its association with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), how viral infections promote MS remains unclear. However, there is increasing evidence that the CNS is continuously surveyed by virus-specific T cells, which protect against reactivating neurotropic viruses. Here, we discuss how viral infections could lead to the breakdown of self-tolerance in genetically predisposed individuals, and how the reactivations of viruses in the CNS could induce the recruitment of both autoaggressive and virus-specific T cell subsets, causing relapses and progressive disability. A disturbed immune surveillance in MS would explain several experimental findings, and has important implications for prognosis and therapy.
Settore MED/04 - Patologia Generale
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
lug-2017
23-mag-2017
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/501726
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