Virus that infects 95% of world population triggers devastating autoimmune conditions, groundbreaking study finds
A groundbreaking study has found a common virus that effects more than 90 percent of the population could trigger a devastating autoimmune condition suffered by Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which most people are exposed to at some point in their lives, is best known for causing the contagious viral infection ‘mono’ (often called the ‘kissing disease’ as it is spread through saliva).
But scientists have long suspected that it may also play a role in autoimmune diseases and researchers at Stanford University recently looked at its link to lupus.
More than 1.5 million Americans are blighted by Lupus, including Gaga and Gomez. The condition causes the immune system to attack the body’s own healthy tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and damage in organs such as the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, and lungs.
Lupus has long been a mystery in the medical field, with no single known cause and its symptoms are varied, mimicking other diseases. There is also no specific cure or targeted treatment available.
In the Stanford University study, researchers investigated EBV as a possible trigger as it can change the behavior of certain immune cells called B cells, which normally help the body fight infection.
Using advanced genetic analysis, they found that when EBV infects these cells, it alters how they function, essentially ‘reprogramming’ them.
The infected cells began to act in ways that could confuse the immune system, making it attack the body’s own healthy tissues instead of harmful invaders.
A groundbreaking study has found that a common virus that effects more than 90 percent of the population could trigger a devastating autoimmune condition suffered by Selena Gomez (pictured)
The scientists traced this effect to a specific viral protein, known as EBNA2, which seems to play a key role in setting off this harmful immune reaction.
Their experiments showed that these altered B cells could trigger other immune cells, creating a chain reaction that may contribute to the development of lupus.
While more research is needed, the findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggest that EBV infection could be one of the sparks that set off lupus in people who are already genetically vulnerable, offering new clues for how to prevent or treat the disease in the future.
Dr Anca Askanase, clinical director of the Lupus Center at Columbia University, who wasn’t involved in the new research, told NBC News he believes the findings put further pressure on scientists to develop a vaccine to target EBV.
‘If we now better understand how this fastidious virus is responsible for autoimmune diseases, I think it’s time to figure out how to prevent it,’ he said.
Patients typically begin experiencing symptoms of lupus in their teens or early 20s, though the condition can also develop in childhood or later adulthood.
Symptoms often change and progress over time.
Many patients first experience fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while others may later develop inflammation of internal organs, such as the kidneys, heart, or lungs.
In severe cases, lupus can cause life-threatening complications.
Research suggests that about one in seven patients may die from lupus-related causes within 15 years of diagnosis, though survival rates have improved significantly with earlier detection and better treatments.
Gomez was diagnosed with lupus in 2013 and has been open about her struggles with the condition.
Patients typically begin experiencing symptoms of lupus in their teens or early 20s, though the condition can also develop in childhood or later adulthood
She has shared that she experiences symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and rashes. She has also undergone a kidney transplant as a result of lupus complications.
While Gaga does not have lupus, she tested ‘borderline positive’ for it in 2010 after experiencing symptoms like heart palpitations and breathing issues.
She said she has a family history of it, as her aunt died from lupus, and she takes precautions to maintain her health.
Meanwhile, more than nine in 10 adults have had EBV at some point in their lives, a common infection spread through bodily fluids like saliva or semen.
It causes symptoms like fatigue, fever, and rashes, and once symptoms disappear, the virus remains dormant in the body, where it can be reactivated when the immune system is low.
Once you encounter the virus, it remains in your body. The virus can be reactivated if you have a weak immune system.
Along with autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, EBV has been associated with various cancers, including Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
In 2001, researchers at the University of Michigan identified a possible molecular connection between aggressive breast cancer and EBV, further highlighting the virus’s complex role in human health.
Lady Gaga’s aunt died from lupus and she says the condition runs in her
Scientists remain uncertain why EBV causes only mild illness in some people while contributing to malignancies in others.
Genetic factors are thought to influence how the virus interacts with the immune system and whether it becomes reactivated later in life.
Experts say that maintaining a strong immune system may help shorten the duration of EBV-related illnesses.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, and low in red meat and dairy is recommended.
Getting adequate sleep, avoiding smoking, and using immune-supporting herbs such as Siberian ginseng and aloe vera may also promote recovery and overall wellness.
