EBV-modifed Extracellular Vesicles in MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-modified Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis
IRAS ID
316844
Contact name
Ruth Dobson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of non-traumatic brain injury in young adults. MS is a complex disease and is associated with both genetic and environmental risk factors. One of the most widely regarded environmental risk factors for MS is infection with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV); almost all people with MS have been infected with EBV, compared to approximately 94% of the general population.
Despite extensive research showing a strong link between EBV infection and MS we still know little about how EBV infection may confer risk for MS. After the initial active infection, EBV is suppressed by the immune system, however it is not cleared from the body. Instead EBV resides latently in memory B-cells at low levels and it is thought that in some people these EBV-infected B-cells lead to an aberrant immune response resulting in neuronal damage.
Extracellular vesicles are small vesicles given off by most cell types - these vesicles carry cargo from one cell to another, including genetic material, proteins and lipids, and in doing so play an important role in cell to cell communication. It has been observed that cells harbouring EBV give off ‘EBV-modified’ extracellular vesicles; that is they contain some viral RNA or proteins.
In this study, we aim to carry out an exploratory study looking at the extracellular vesicles isolated from blood in people with MS. We will examine if these vesicles carry EBV associated products such as small RNA (micro-RNA, miRNA) or protein and look at how this differs between people with MS and healthy controls. We hope the results of this study will not only help us find biomarkers that distinguish between MS and healthy controls, but also give insight into mechanisms involved in EBV associated risk of MS.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0790
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion