Epstein Barr virus and autoimmune disease

CCinPA

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2014

Posts : 2928

Posted 1/15/2021 6:50 PM (GMT -5)

I can't say I understand what this is saying so hopefully one of you more scientific folks can explain it. From what I can understand there seems to be a link from having had Epstein Barr (mono nucleosis, chronic fatique syndrom) and pre-dispose people to developing autoimmune diseases like IBD and several others. The article is from 2018. I googled and didn't see anything newer at first glance.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0102-3

Medz

Regular Member

Joined : May 2010

Posts : 136

Posted 1/16/2021 11:02 PM (GMT -5)

"when this virus infects cells, the virus makes its own transcription factors, and that’s what we suspect is increasing risk for the disease.”

That basically sums it up, and they're focused on a EBV vaccine which would also prevent the other 7 disorders:

“EBV infection increases with age, and ultimately, most people become infected. If we could prevent infection—by vaccination, for example—then it is possible we could reduce the incidence of autoimmune disease substantially.”

https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/study-implicates-epstein-barr-virus-in-7-autoimmune-diseases/

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply