Viruses and Multiple Sclerosis: From Mechanisms and Pathways to Translational Research Opportunities

Viruses are directly or indirectly implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we review the evidence on the virus-related pathophysiology of MS, introduce common experimental models, and explore the ways in which viruses cause demyelination. By emphasizing knowledge gaps, we highlight future resea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular neurobiology 2017-07, Vol.54 (5), p.3911-3923
Main Authors: Mentis, Alexios-Fotios A., Dardiotis, Efthimios, Grigoriadis, Nikolaos, Petinaki, Efthimia, Hadjigeorgiou, Georgios M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cell Biology
Disease Models, Animal
Disease Progression
Humans
Medical research
Models, Biological
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis - pathology
Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology
Multiple Sclerosis - virology
Neurobiology
Neurology
Neurosciences
Stem Cells - metabolism
Translational Medical Research
Viruses
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Summary:Viruses are directly or indirectly implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we review the evidence on the virus-related pathophysiology of MS, introduce common experimental models, and explore the ways in which viruses cause demyelination. By emphasizing knowledge gaps, we highlight future research directions for effective MS diagnostics and therapies: (i) identifying biomarkers for at-risk individuals, (ii) searching for direct evidence of specific causative viruses, (iii) establishing the contribution of host genetic factors and viruses, and (iv) investigating the contribution of immune regulation at extra-CNS sites. Research in these areas is likely to be facilitated by the application of high-throughput technologies, the development of systems-based bioinformatic approaches, careful selection of experimental models, and the acquisition of high-quality clinical material for tissue-based research.
ISSN:0893-7648
1559-1182
DOI:10.1007/s12035-017-0530-6