Plasma titers of antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 and risk of multiple sclerosis

Background/Aims: Results of recently conducted prospective studies have demonstrated that the presence of high titers of anti-EBNA-1 or anti-EBNA complex IgG antibodies in healthy individuals is a strong risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). Antibodies to BZLF1, the product of the homonymous early lytic gene, have been found to be related to risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but have not been previously measured in MS studies. Methods: We examined whether high levels of anti-BZLF1 IgG antibodies also predict MS risk in a nested case-control study among women in the Nurses Health Study and Nurses Health Study II cohorts. Results: Results of this prospective study suggest that antibody titers to EBNAs are the strongest predictor of MS risk. Conclusion: Little further contribution may be provided by measuring anti-BZLF1 antibodies in regard to MS risk.