Journal Article DKFZ-2024-00821

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png
Genetics of immune response to Epstein-Barr virus: prospects for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.

 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;

2024
Oxford Univ. Press Oxford

Brain 147(10), 3573-3582 () [10.1093/brain/awae110]
 GO

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:

Abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been advocated as a prerequisite for developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and possibly the propagation of the disease. However, the precise mechanisms for such influences are still unclear. A large-scale study investigating the host genetics of EBV serology and related clinical manifestations, such as infectious mononucleosis (IM), may help us better understand the role of EBV in MS pathogenesis. This study evaluates the host genetic factors that influence serological response against EBV and history of IM and cross-evaluates them with MS risk and genetic susceptibility in the Swedish population. Plasma IgG antibody levels against EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1, truncated=aa[325-641], peptide=aa[385-420]) and viral capsid antigen p18 (VCAp18) were measured using bead-based multiplex serology for 8744 MS cases and 7229 population-matched controls. The MS risk association for high/low EBV antibody levels and history of IM was compared to relevant clinical measures along with sex, age at sampling, and associated HLA allele variants. Genome-wide and HLA allele association analyses were also performed to identify genetic risk factors for EBV antibody response and IM history. Higher antibody levels against VCAp18 (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.60-1.88) and EBNA-1, particularly the peptide (OR=3.13, 95% CI=2.93-3.35), were associated with an increased risk for MS. The risk increased with higher anti-EBNA-1 IgG levels up to twelve times the reference risk. We also identified several independent HLA haplotypes associated with EBV serology overlapping with known MS risk alleles (e.g., DRB1*15:01). Although there were several candidates, no variants outside the HLA region reached genome-wide significance. Cumulative HLA risk for anti-EBNA-1 IgG levels, particularly the peptide fragment, was strongly associated with MS. In contrast, the genetic risk for high anti-VCAp18 IgG levels was not as strongly associated with MS risk. IM history was not associated with class II HLA genes but negatively associated with A*02:01, which is protective against MS. Our findings emphasize that the risk association between anti-EBNA-1 IgG levels and MS may be partly due to overlapping HLA associations. Additionally, the increasing MS risk with increasing anti-EBNA-1 levels would be consistent with a pathogenic role of the EBNA-1 immune response, perhaps through molecular mimicry. Given that high anti-EBNA-1 antibodies may reflect a poorly controlled T-cell defense against the virus, our findings would be consistent with DRB1*15:01 being a poor class II antigen in the immune defense against EBV. Lastly, the difference in genetic control of IM supports the independent roles of EBNA-1 and IM in MS susceptibility.

Keyword(s): DRB1 ; EBNA1 ; EBV ; GWAS ; HLA

Classification:

Note: 2024 Oct 3;147(10):3573-3582

Contributing Institute(s):
  1. Infektionen und Krebs-Epidemiologie (F020)
  2. Infektionen und Krebs-Epidemiologie (D320)
Research Program(s):
  1. 314 - Immunologie und Krebs (POF4-314) (POF4-314)

Appears in the scientific report 2024
Database coverage:
Medline ; OpenAccess ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; NationallizenzNationallizenz ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection
Click to display QR Code for this record

The record appears in these collections:
Document types > Articles > Journal Article
Public records
Publications database
Open Access

 Record created 2024-04-18, last modified 2025-11-12


OpenAccess:
Download fulltext PDF Download fulltext PDF (PDFA)
Rate this document:

Rate this document:
1
2
3
 
(Not yet reviewed)