Open AccessVitamin D, Epstein-Barr virus, and endogenous retroviruses in multiple sclerosis - facts and hypotheses
Author(s) -
Christine Brütting,
Gabriele I. Stangl,
Martin S. Staege
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of integrative neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.336
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1757-448X
pISSN - 0219-6352
DOI - 10.31083/j.jin.2021.01.392
Subject(s) - pathogenesis , multiple sclerosis , endogenous retrovirus , epstein–barr virus , biology , immunology , epigenetics , immune system , virus , endogeny , vitamin d and neurology , virology , genetics , gene , endocrinology , genome
The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains poorly understood. Presumably, MS is caused by multiple environmental, epigenetic, and genetic factors. Among them, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and vitamin D have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis and course of MS. Because vitamin D can affect the immune system and infections, it can be hypothesized that there is a close interplay between vitamins, EBV and ERV in the pathogenesis of MS. Here, we summarize the important data on vitamin D, including polymorphisms in genes related to vitamin D metabolism, EBV and ERV, in the pathogenesis of MS and create hypotheses regarding their interactions. Data indicate that vitamin D has a strong impact on viral infections and interferes with EBV infection, while EBV is capable of activating silent ERVs. We believe that EBV could be the missing link between vitamin D and ERV in MS pathogenesis.