The Epstein-Barr virus and Sjögren’s Disease

Could a Common Virus Trigger Sjögren’s Disease?

Researchers have found new clues that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)—a common virus that causes "mono"—may play a role in causing Sjögren’s, an autoimmune disease.

Here’s what the scientists discovered:

• Almost everyone gets EBV at some point in life, but in some people, it might confuse the immune system.

• In people with Sjögren’s, the virus shows up in the salivary glands, where it seems to be pushing the immune system to attack the body.

• The virus may trick the body by mimicking its own cells, causing the immune system to attack healthy tissue.

• People who are genetically more sensitive to immune problems might be more likely to develop the disease after getting EBV.

This research suggests that EBV could be a key trigger for Sjögren’s in people who are already at risk. Knowing this could help scientists develop better treatments in the future—possibly ones that target the virus itself.

A number of studies have suggested a link between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the development of Sjögren’s Disease, a chronic autoimmune disease.

Key Findings from Recent Research:

A study published in 2023 in Cell by Dr. Virginia Pascual's team (Weill Cornell Medicine) provided compelling evidence that Epstein-Barr virus could contribute to the onset of Sjögren’s in genetically susceptible individuals.

Here’s a breakdown of what researchers found:

What Is Epstein-Barr Virus?

• EBV is a common herpesvirus that infects about 90–95% of the adult population worldwide.

• It typically causes infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) and establishes lifelong latent infection in B cells (a type of white blood cell).

• EBV has long been linked to several autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, multiple sclerosis).

What Happens in Sjögren’s Disease?

• The immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own moisture-producing glands.

• This causes symptoms like dry eyes and dry mouth, and may also involve systemic inflammation.

• The exact cause is unknown, but it's believed to be a mix of genetics, environmental triggers, and viral infections like EBV.

 What Did the Study Show?

1. Aberrant B Cells:

   • In people with Sjögren’s, EBV-infected B cells were found in salivary gland tissue, where they normally shouldn't be.

   • These B cells were producing autoantibodies—antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues.

2. Viral Mimicry:

   • EBV may cause “molecular mimicry,” where the immune system attacks human proteins because they resemble parts of the virus.

3. Inflammatory Signals:

   • EBV infection increases type I interferon responses, a feature also commonly seen in autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s.

4. Genetic Susceptibility:

   • Individuals with certain HLA gene variants may be more prone to react abnormally to EBV and develop autoimmunity.

Why This Matters:

• This adds to growing evidence that viruses can act as environmental triggers in people who are genetically predisposed to autoimmunity.

• If EBV is involved in the pathogenesis of Sjögren’s, targeting the virus or virus-infected cells could one day lead to new treatments.

• It also helps explain why some people develop Sjögren’s after viral illnesses.

In Summary:

• EBV is strongly suspected to play a role in the development of Sjögren’s Disease.

• It may disrupt the immune system, promote autoantibody production, and drive chronic inflammation.

• More research is ongoing, but these findings are a major step toward understanding the root causes of the disease.

"The factors underlying the onset and development of SjS are still uncertain. Nevertheless, typical immune profiles have been characterized in these patients, which can be relevant to unveil important links to other triggering players in this autoimmune disease. Despite B-cells are the main target for EBV latent infection, T-cells have also a role in this play, and have been studied in autoimmune diseases for which EBV is considered a potential trigger." FULL REPORT HERE