Vitamin D, Epstein-Barr virus, and endogenous retroviruses in multiple sclerosis - facts and hypotheses

• Main Authors: Christine Brütting, Gabriele I. Stangl, Martin S. Staege
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IMR (Innovative Medical Research) Press Limited 2021-03-01
• Series: Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
• Subjects: epstein-barr virus (ebv); genetic polymorphisms; human endogenous retroviruses (hervs); vitamin d
• Online Access: https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1616655657494-1887405574.pdf

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.