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A new study helps scientists better understand how systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) might develop. The findings could eventually open the door to new treatments or prevention strategies.
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The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, offers evidence that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may play a key role in triggering immune system changes linked to lupus. The results build on past research that found a connection between EBV infections, such as mononucleosis (mono), and a higher risk of SLE.
“We think it applies to 100 percent of lupus cases,” Dr. William Robinson, a professor of immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University and the study’s senior author, said in an interview with The Guardian. “I think it really sets the stage for a new generation of therapies that could fundamentally treat and thereby provide benefit to lupus patients.”
EBV is a very common virus that most people get during childhood or their teen years. About 19 in 20 people in the United States have been infected at some point. The infection can cause symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash, or fatigue, but many people have only mild symptoms — or none at all. The virus then becomes dormant, meaning it remains in the body quietly without causing symptoms.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine used an advanced lab method called single-cell RNA sequencing to look at individual immune cells from people with and without lupus. This technique allowed them to see which cells were infected with EBV and which genes were active in those cells.
They found that people with lupus had many more B cells infected with EBV. B cells usually help the body fight infections, but a type called autoreactive B cells can mistakenly target the body’s own tissues. These harmful B cells are usually inactive. In lupus, however, EBV may trigger autoreactive B cells to “wake up” and send strong danger signals to the immune system. This includes alerting T cells, which are designed to attack and destroy invaders like viruses. This chain reaction may be one way the immune system begins attacking healthy tissues in lupus.
Although this research deepens scientists’ understanding of lupus, medical professionals caution that EBV isn’t the only factor. The virus may be just one piece of a much larger puzzle that includes genetics, hormones, and other environmental influences.
These findings don’t mean that people with lupus need to be tested for EBV, and they don’t change current treatment options. There’s also no way to fully avoid EBV, since the virus is so widespread and usually passes through close contact in daily life.
Instead, the findings point to promising directions for future studies. By learning more about how EBV affects the immune system, scientists may be able to develop treatments that target the specific immune cells involved or interrupt the activation loop between B cells and T cells.
Some research teams are already exploring treatments that remove or reset B cells, similar to therapies used in certain blood cancers. Clinical trials for EBV vaccines are also underway, though still in the early stages.
If you have questions about how this research relates to your own health, talk with your rheumatologist. They can help explain how new discoveries may shape the future of lupus treatment and whether any of these findings could apply to you.
Learn about current treatments for lupus.
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Have you or a loved one been affected by EBV or received a lupus diagnosis? Let others know in the comments below.
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