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   Scientists prove link between viral infection and autoimmune disease   
   by David Stacey   
      
   Scientists prove link between viral infection and autoimmune disease   
   Common viral infections can pave the way to autoimmune disease, Australian   
   scientists have revealed in breakthrough research published internationally   
   today.   
      
   Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti, from The University of Western Australia and   
   the Lions Eye Institute, said the research proved a link between chronic viral   
   infection and autoimmune disease.   
      
   "This is a very significant discovery because we now know more about the   
   pathways that lead to disease," Professor Degli-Esposti said.   
      
   Published in the leading journal Immunity, the Australian research found that   
   chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection could lead to the development of   
   Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome.   
      
   CMV - a member of the herpes family - is a common viral infection that causes   
   mild flu-like symptoms in healthy people but can lead to more serious illness   
   in those with compromised immune systems.   
      
   Between 50 and 80 per cent of people in developed countries are infected with   
   CMV.  Although normally innocuous, given the right genetic background, chronic   
   viral infection with CMV can trigger autoimmunity.   
      
   "Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is the second most common autoimmune disease in   
   humans, affecting up to three per cent of the population or more than four   
   million people in the United States alone," Professor Degli-Esposti said.   
      
   "It affects the function of salivary and lacrimal glands and leads to a   
   debilitating disease characterised by the loss of saliva and tear production."   
   Overwhelmingly, it is a disease suffered by women, with most symptoms of the   
   disorder emerging in the 40 to 60 year age group.   
      
   There are two forms - primary Sjogren's syndrome, defined as a dry eye and   
   mouth that occurs by itself - and secondary Sjogren's syndrome, with the same   
   symptoms occurring in those with a major underlying disease such as rheumatoid   
   arthritis or systemic    
   lupus.   
      
   "In our model of SS we have been able to dissect the exact cellular and   
   molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of this common autoimmune   
   disease," Professor Degli-Esposti said.   
      
   "We have now gained critical insights into the pathways that need to be   
   targeted to provide improved treatments for a common and debilitating human   
   condition."   
   Professor Degli-Esposti said this new research was highly significant because   
   it had identified a cause of SS, and in doing so, demonstrated a novel,   
   unknown function of an immune cell population.   
      
   "Up until now, research in this area has been speculative and animal models   
   have been extremely limited," she said.   
      
   "This research gives us new understanding and offers the hope of improved and   
   better targeted therapeutic treatments into the future."   
      
       
   Explore further: Common treatment of certain autoimmune disease does not   
   appear effective   
      
   Journal reference: Immunity     
   Provided by University of Western Australia     
      
      
   http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-scientists-link-viral-infe   
   tion-autoimmune.html   
      
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