After analyzing blood samples from thousands of patients with multiple sclerosis, molecular biologists have discovered that they are both carriers of the same strain of herpes. Results of the study were recently published in «Frontiers in Immunology».
Commented on the publication Swedish neuroscientists at the Karolinska Institute, evaluating the results of published studies, as a major breakthrough in the study of both diseases. Especially, that the theory of communication herpes strain of HHV-6A with multiple sclerosis has long been actively discussed in the scientific medical community. And now it was conclusively proven.
In addition, in the process of scientific research on the subject has developed a method by which the herpes subtype can be easily distinguished from other "similar" subspecies - HHV-6B.
Recall that herpes is one of the most common infections that are dangerous to the human body. At the same time, there are different strains of the virus, affecting different parts of the body. So HHV1 provokes cold on the lips, HHV2 «occupied» genitals strains HHV6 / HHV7 cause fever, coupled with the rash. But whatever kind of virus a person may become infected, they stay with him forever.
By the way, a long time it was thought that herpes - a virus harmless. But recent discoveries in the field of medicine suggests that it is this infection with all its strains actively contributes to the development in the human body a variety of diseases, including encephalitis, Alzheimer's and so forth.
On the connection with multiple sclerosis
Back in the 80s of last century, doctors suspected that some subtypes of herpes somehow associated with multiple sclerosis - an autoimmune disease, characterized by attacks immune cells aimed at the myelin sheath as its own peripheral nerves, which isolates them from the aggression environment.
Meanwhile without myelin neurones weak signal is performed and the "short". As a result, the patient numb limbs, partial paralysis may develop blindness and some other serious illnesses.
Based on statistical data, the WHO says, multiple sclerosis today affects about 3 million people in the world. What is especially scary, effective means of treating the disease yet.
The viral nature of multiple sclerosis
Thus, molecular biologists who have studied antibodies sets associated with multiple sclerosis with a single, well-defined kind of herpes - HHV-6A. According to scientists, this strain manifests itself a little, but enough can freely penetrate the nervous system cells and infect them.
As shown by further observations, in healthy individuals in the presence of antibodies to HHV-6A chances of developing multiple sclerosis in the future as much doubled! And it was particularly noticeable in volunteers infected with herpes in childhood, adolescence. So HHV-6A is almost directly linked to the development of autoimmune diseases (ie multiple sclerosis).
Despite the fact that the herpes virus HHV-6B strain also can infect human neurons, it is similar effects never caused. And now this is what will allow the scientists working on the problem, figure out: how herpes provokes the development of multiple sclerosis. Molecular biologists are going to see how the two virus variants affect the functionality of the nerve cells, as well as other components of the human nervous system.
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