Epstein-Barr Virus in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
"Systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) are a group of connective tissue diseases with diverse, yet overlapping, symptoms and autoantibody development. The etiology behind SADs is not fully elucidated, but a number of genetic and environmental factors are known to influence the incidence of SADs. Recent findings link dysregulation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with SAD development."
"In conclusion, EBV is demonstrated to have a role as an environmental trigger in the development of SADs. Individual genetically determined and acquired differences in innate and adaptive immunity and the constant interplay between the host’s immune response and EBV immune-modulating proteins may result in individual disease patterns, which are overlapping, but clinically may be classified as SLE, RA, and SS. It is also possible that every time the control of EBV diminishes, EBV reactivates and reinfects more cells of different types in different locations of the body, resulting in specific manifestations and progression of disease flares"
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cdi/2013/535738/