Understanding the Link between EBV and MS: The Role of CRYAB

May 17, 2023

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes the infectious disease mononucleosis. However, prior work has found it can also lead to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). In a recent paper titled Cross-reactive EBNA1 immunity targets alpha-crystallin B and is associated with multiple sclerosis, published in Science Advances, scientists identified that immune cells generated during an EBV infection can also attack an individual’s own cells, potentially contributing to MS development.

In this study, scientists examined 700 blood samples from patients with MS. They focused on a protein known as alpha-crystallin B (CRYAB), which helps prevent cell damage by keeping other proteins from clumping together. It can also be produced in oligodendrocytes, a type of neuronal cell, and may help reduce inflammation. 

Their research demonstrated that 13-27% of MS patients have autoantibodies that target CRYAB. Furthermore, they found that some of the immune cells generated in response to EBV can also accidentally target CRYAB. This suggests that in some MS patients, a combination of these errors may be contributing to autoimmune disease development. 

This is an important step in understanding how EBV can lead to MS, but since this wasn’t seen in all patients, more research is needed to fully understand the connection.

Citation for report:

Thomas, O. G., Bronge, M., Tengvall, K., Akpinar, B., Nilsson, O. B., Holmgren, E., Hessa, T., Gafvelin, G., Khademi, M., Alfredsson, L., Martin, R., Guerreiro-Cacais, A. O., Grönlund, H., Olsson, T., & Kockum, I. (2023). Cross-reactive EBNA1 immunity targets alpha-crystallin B and is associated with multiple sclerosis. Science advances, 9(20), eadg3032. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg3032