en Immunology Immunology Original Research Original Research <p>  </p><p> <strong> Abstract </strong></p><p> <strong> Background: </strong>Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune disease of central nervous system with destruction of myelin sheath mediated by auto reactive CD4+ T Lymphocytes. Because of the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus in etiology of MS and T cells immune response, the aim of this study was to evaluate anti-Epstein Barr virus antibodies as a marker of reactivity and production of TH1 and TH2 cytokines in MS patients and healthy individuals. </p><p> <strong> Methods: </strong>Blood samples were taken from 68 MS patients at different stages of diseases and 20 apparently healthy individuals and plasma levels of anti- EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibodies determined and concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-12 and IL-4 in culture supernatants of PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by ELISA. </p><p> <strong> Results: </strong>The mean levels of anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p=0.04, p=0.001 respectively). Concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-4 & IL-12 were also significantly higher in MS patients than healthy individuals (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.002, respectively). Significant correlation was found between anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies and IL-12 production (p =0.02, r=0.27& p=0.04, r=0.25, respectively) whereas no significant correlation was found between these antibodies and production of IFN- [1] or IL-4. </p><p> <strong> Conclusions: </strong>Due to elevated level of anti-EBV antibodies and T cell Cytokines in MS patients Rather than healthy individuals, Epstein Barr virus may play role in etiology of MS disease through activation of T cells immune response. </p> Multiple sclerosis, Epstein Barr virus, Anti- EBNA-1, Anti-VCA, Cytokine, TH1. 115 125 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-113&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Bahareh Laribi Bahare.laribi@gmail.com 2003194753284600868 2003194753284600868 Yes Research Center of Immunology, Iran University of Medical SciencesTehran, Iran Masuomeh Bakhshayesh m.bakhshayesh@yahoo.com 20031947532846001026 20031947532846001026 No Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Samileh Nourbakhsh samileh@iums.ac.ir 20031947532846001027 20031947532846001027 No Hazrate Rasoul Hospital Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojdeh Ghabaee ghabaeem@tums.ac.ir 20031947532846001028 20031947532846001028 No Center of Neurological Research, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Majid Ghaffarpour ghafarpour@tums.ac.ir 20031947532846001029 20031947532846001029 No Center of Neurological Research, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Shekarabi m_shekarabi@yahoo.com 20031947532846001030 20031947532846001030 No Research Center of Immunology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Hassan Zarnani A.H.zarnani@iums.ac.ir 20031947532846001031 20031947532846001031 No Research Center of Immunology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran