Why Is MS a More Frequent Complication of EBV Infection in Females? - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #sex differences
- #Epstein-Barr virus
- #multiple sclerosis
- MS is a T helper cell-mediated disease targeting CNS white matter, affecting three times more females than males.
- MS is identified as a rare complication of EBV infection, with EBV inducing cross-reactive T and B cell responses against CNS antigens via molecular mimicry.
- The HLA-DR15 haplotype plays a key role in sustaining autoreactive T cell responses and interacts with EBV in MS pathogenesis.
- Females show higher EBV seroprevalence and incidence of infectious mononucleosis during early teen years, a period of increased MS susceptibility.
- Females with MS develop greater levels of EBNA-1-cross-reactive autoantibodies and exhibit more myelin-specific Th1 cells in peripheral blood.
- EBV-infected B cells may achieve greater latency in females, potentially perpetuating CNS autoimmunity and contributing to sex differences in MS.