Epstein-Barr virus may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) by activating innate immune responses, researchers found.
Examination of postmortem brain tissue turned up RNA segments of the virus specifically in areas of active MS lesions overexpressing an inflammatory cytokine involved in innate immunity, according to a study by Ute C. Meier, DPhil, of Queen Mary University of London, and colleagues.
That cytokine, interferon-alpha, was overexpressed in active areas of white matter MS lesions but not in inactive lesions, normal-appearing white matter, or normal brain tissue from controls, the group reported online in Neurology.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... pageid/707
