Double-stranded RNA antiviral signature in early multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Viruses, particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are strongly implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, yet reliable biomarkers of active viral replication remain limited. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) represents a hallmark of viral replication and may serve as a measurable indicator of viral infection.

Methods

We developed a sandwich ELISA to quantify dsRNA levels in matched plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 70 treatment-naïve MS patients at first clinical onset and in plasma from 26 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. We additionally assessed plasma and CSF antiviral cytokine concentrations and designed an indirect ELISA to measure anti-dsRNA antibody levels using poly(I:C) as the target antigen.

Results

Plasma dsRNA levels wer

SUBMITTER: Gouzouasis V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12698519 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature