A study has found that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common childhood virus, may be the trigger for lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting about 69,000 people in the UK. The research, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests EBV causes immune cells to attack the body's own tissues.
Scientists at Stanford University discovered that in lupus patients, EBV was found in about 1 in 400 B cells, compared to fewer than 1 in 10,000 in healthy individuals—a 25-fold difference. The virus appeared to activate autoreactive B cells, which then recruit other immune cells to attack the body.
Lead author Prof William Robinson said the finding applies to 100% of lupus cases and could lead to new treatments. The study resolves a long-standing mystery about the cause of lupus, which has no known cure and causes joint pain, fatigue, and rashes.
EBV infects about 95% of adults and remains dormant in cells. While most people experience no serious effects, the virus has been linked to multiple sclerosis. The findings may accelerate development of an EBV vaccine, with clinical trials already underway.
