Detection of CMV and EBV DNA in PBMCs of MS Patients and Healthy Individuals in Gorgan, Iran

Background and Aims: Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic and autoimmune disease, which causes inflammation and demyelination of the axons in CNS. Studies have indicated that Herpesviruses might be one of the potential environmental elements that can trigger the initiation of the inflammatory cascade in MS. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the genome of CMV and (or) EBV is present in PBMCs of the MS patients and healthy individuals and if so, consider the sequencing process for DNA-positive samples. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 50 MS patients and healthy people were collected and extraction of DNA was done on PBMCs of the mentioned samples. PCR was used for conserved and variable regions of the genome to seek the presence of EBV and (or) CMV DNA in extraction products. Results: Neither in PBMCs samples of the MS patients (n=50) nor in those of healthy individuals (n=50) could we find any evidence to prove the presence of the two mentioned viral DNAs in DNA extraction products of the PBMCs samples. Genotyping of mentioned viruses was consequently omitted from the study purposes. Conclusions: Based on the findings in this study, there seems to be no significant relation between CMV/EBV infection and the risk of MS development.