Common virus found in most people can trigger lupus, study reveals
Scientists say this common virus appears to trigger lupus
- A new study by Stanford University scientists suggests that the common Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can directly trigger lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting nearly 5 million people worldwide.
- Researchers found that in lupus patients, the fraction of EBV-infected immune system B cells was 25 times higher than in healthy individuals, at approximately 1 in 400 B cells.
- The study revealed that EBV nudges B cells to produce a viral protein, EBNA2, which activates human genes linked to inflammation, causing these B cells to become "highly inflammatory" and attack the body.
- This mechanism leads to the immune system attacking the body's own cells, damaging organs like the skin, joints, and kidneys, with symptoms varying widely among individuals.
- Scientists speculate that this EBV-triggered self-targeting of B-cells may also contribute to other autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease, though the reason only some develop these conditions remains unclear.