Highly expanded CD8+ T cells in the fluid around the brains of people with early multiple sclerosis recognize Epstein–Barr virus, strengthening the idea that infection with this common virus might fuel the earliest stages of this disease.
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References
Baecher-Allan, C., Kaskow, B. J. & Weiner, H. L. Multiple sclerosis: mechanisms and immunotherapy. Neuron 97, 742–768 (2018). A review article that presents a comprehensive overview of the immunological mechanisms underlying MS.
Babbe, H. et al. Clonal expansions of CD8+ T cells dominate the T cell infiltrate in active multiple sclerosis lesions as shown by micromanipulation and single cell polymerase chain reaction. J. Exp. Med. 192, 393–404 (2000). This paper reports that in active MS lesions, the T cell infiltrate is dominated by a small number of clonally expanded CD8+ T cells.
Bjornevik, K. et al. Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein–Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis. Science 375, 296–301 (2022). This paper reports that EBV infection precedes and dramatically increases the risk of MS, providing strong longitudinal evidence that EBV is a causal factor in MS pathogenesis.
Soldan, S. S. & Lieberman, P. M. Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 21, 51–64 (2023). A review article that presents evidence to link EBV infection to MS, focusing on epidemiological, immunological and mechanistic insights that support a causal relationship and therapeutic implications.
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This is a summary of: Hayashi, F. et al. Antigen specificity of clonally enriched CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02412-3 (2026).
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T cells in cerebrospinal fluid support a suspected viral link to multiple sclerosis. Nat Immunol 27, 399–400 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-026-02423-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-026-02423-8
