Prof Michael Pender Replied: “Thank you for these good questions. Yes, I do believe that EBV infection causes MS through the mechanism I first proposed in 2003 (Pender [2003] Trends in Immunology 24:584-588) and again in 2011 (Pender [2011] The Neuroscientist 17:351-367). My hypothesis proposes that MS is truly an autoimmune disease that is dependent on the professional antigen-presenting capacity of EBV-infected autoreactive B cells in the brain to provide survival signals to autoreactive T cells that would otherwise die in the brain (as well on the production of anti-brain antibodies by the infected B cells and plasma cells). The beneficial effects of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in relapsing-remitting MS can be explained by inhibition of the activation and proliferation of autoreactive T cells and/or inhibition of the entry of these T cells into the brain. The efficacy of interferon beta in relapsing-remitting MS might also be due to its potent antiviral actions and ability to enhance the antiviral CD8+ T cell response. However, none of the currently available DMTs is directed against what I believe is the cause of MS, namely EBV-infected B cells in the brain. This is why these DMTs do not work in progressive MS. Indeed it is likely that the salutary actions of natalizumab, alemtuzumab, fingolimod and immunosuppressive drugs on the activation, proliferation and/or trafficking of autoreactive T cells are offset by aggravation of the already impaired CD8+ T cell control of EBV in MS.
With regard to your comment about there being EBV-negative people with MS, this is by no means certain. Some people with MS may be negative for one type of anti-EBV antibody but positive for another type. The careful study by Pakpoor and colleagues in 2013 (Multiple Sclerosis Journal 19:162-166) concluded that, when looking at studies where two independent methods are used and therefore are likely to be the most robust, EBV appears to be present in 100% of MS patients. The one study on children with MS where only 86% of patients were EBV-seropositive compared to 64% of matched controls (Banwell and colleagues [2007] Lancet Neurology 6:773-781) stands in contrast to the study of Pohl and colleagues in 2006 (Neurology 67:2063-2065) who found that 99% of children with MS are EBV-seropositive compared to only 72% of healthy children.
I agree that my hypothesis is simple but that does not mean it is less likely to be true”.
So there you have it; MS is simple.
Prof Pender,
do you therefore think that the "more active" DMTs you mention are going to cause long term harm due to an increase in progressive MS at a later stage – is there evidence for this? Should patients therefore avoid them? Or could they instead take them now and hope that your therapy is shown to work in 10 to 15 years when they perhaps start to show progression?
Many thanks.
I am not aware of any evidence that natalizumab, alemtuzumab, fingolimod or immunosuppressive drugs might be harmful in the long term by increasing the susceptibility to progressive MS.
Very interesting, thank you so much for the work you're doing and sharing
Sorry for asking stupid questions (I am not a scientist, just a brainfogged ill person) but does this theory think that EBV activating HERVs is involved, or just EBV on its own?
K
There is an important point in the theory.
Can these B-cells replicate by their own in the CNS ? or it is necesary a frecuent B-cell trafic to make the theory works?
Natalizumab must work in progresive phases due to the inhibition of the the EBV-infected autoreactive B cells to enter in the CNS.
RItuximab and other anti-CD20 drugs are so heavy to enter in the CNS due to the BBB, how can the work to eliminate the B-cells in the CNS?
Thanks
B cell follicles allow B cells to replicate. so can be sełf substaining. Therefore this aanswerss the tysabri issue Are there any pproggressive Msersout there who feel they are worsening.
There ois a trial wi8th intrathecal anti-cd20 ongoing