Publication: Epstein–Barr Virus and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is There a Link?
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Date
2006
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BioMed Central
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Citation
Costenbader, Karen H., and Elizabeth W. Karlson. 2006. Epstein–Barr virus and rheumatoid arthritis: Is there a link? Arthritis Research & Therapy 8(1): 204.
Research Data
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic, destructive, debilitating arthritis. Its etiology is unknown; it is presumed that environmental factors trigger development in the genetically predisposed. Epstein–Barr virus, a nearly ubiquitous virus in the human population, has generated great interest as a potential trigger. This virus stimulates polyclonal lymphocyte expansion and persists within B lymphocytes for the host's life, inhibited from reactivating by the immune response. In latent and replicating forms, it has immunomodulating actions that could play a role in the development of this autoimmune disease. The evidence linking Epstein–Barr virus and rheumatoid arthritis is reviewed.
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Keywords
systemic lupus erythematosus, cyclic citrullinated peptide, polymerase chain reaction, t-cell responses, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, cigarette smoking, nuclear antigen-1, b-cells, peripheral blood, parovirus B19
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