EBV—the root cause behind mysterious illnesses

by | Mar 20, 2017 | Uncategorized

There is a long list of autoimmune diseases, which often become difficult to diagnose. While there may a number of reasons behind them, one major reason is the deficiency o f CD8+ T-cells since they are responsible for inhibiting the viruses. The most common diseases and disorders resulting because of the absence of the CD8+ T-cells are enlisted below[1]:

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic sclerosis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Graves’ disease
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Alopecia areata
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus

CD8+ T-cells and EBV

According to various scientific studies, the underlying cause behind many autoimmune diseases is the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. Since CD8+ T-cells are responsible for controlling the virus, their deficiency automatically leads to the virus’s growth[2].

As long as the EBV is in control, the body’s immunity system keeps working properly. However, when the virus is not checked, it starts infecting the B cells, making them auto reactive. This means that antibodies will be produced, which will target the tissues of the body instead of any foreign object[3].

The Mechanism of Autoimmunity

According the theory, the autoimmunity progresses through the following steps:

  1. CD8+ T-cell deficiency is caused, which is genetic.
  2. CD8+ T-cell deficiency results in the uncontrolled proliferation of EBV.
  3. The body reacts by creating antibodies against the EBV.
  4. Since the EBV infects the B cells of an organ, the antibodies are tricked into attacking your own tissue. There is another theory to explain the situation called ‘molecular mimicry’[4]. According to this theory, this confusion is caused because there are no significant differences between the proteins of humans and microbes.
  5. Propagation of B cells in the infected organs.
  6. Attraction of T-cells as well, which also participate in the attacking process.

Factors Influencing CD8+

Following are the factors affecting the CD8+ T-cells:

  • With increase in age, humans tend to lose their CD8+ cells count. As a result, chances of contracting autoimmunity diseases rise.
  • Estrogen is involved in decreasing the CD8+ T-cells, explaining why the problem is prevalent among women[5].
  • Sunlight promotes the production of CD8+ T-cells[6]. Therefore, the autoimmune diseases are recurrent in countries that receive less sunlight.
  • While acute stress has been reported to increase the CD8+ T-cells, chronic stress has no effect on it. However, chronic stress is responsible for reactivating EBV by downplaying the immune response of Th1.

In order to cure the several diseases caused because of EBV, it is essential that the root cause of the diseases be found. Many doctors are often busy in addressing the individual illnesses and fail to realize what the real problem is.

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[1] Pender, M. P. (2013). CD8+ T-cell deficiency, Epstein–Barr virus infection, vitamin D deficiency, and steps to autoimmunity: a unifying hypothesis. Autoimmune Dis 2012: 189096. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol, 45, 256-66.

[2] Taylor, G. S., Long, H. M., Brooks, J. M., Rickinson, A. B., & Hislop, A. D. (2015). The immunology of Epstein-Barr virus–induced disease. Annual review of immunology, 33, 787-821.

 

[3] Croia, C., Astorri, E., Murray‐Brown, W., Willis, A., Brokstad, K. A., Sutcliffe, N., … & Bombardieri, M. (2014). Implication of Epstein‐Barr Virus Infection in Disease‐Specific Autoreactive B Cell Activation in Ectopic Lymphoid Structures of Sjögren’s Syndrome. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 66(9), 2545-2557.

 

[4] Woulfe, J. M., Gray, M. T., Gray, D. A., Munoz, D. G., & Middeldorp, J. M. (2014). Hypothesis: a role for EBV-induced molecular mimicry in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 20(7), 685-694.

 

[5] Bupp, M. R. G. (2015). Sex, the aging immune system, and chronic disease. Cellular immunology, 294(2), 102-110.

 

[6] Chen, J., Bruce, D., & Cantorna, M. T. (2014). Vitamin D receptor expression controls proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells and development of CD8 mediated gastrointestinal inflammation. BMC immunology, 15(1), 6.