Epstein-Barr virus 與全身性紅斑狼瘡

Epstein-Barr Virus and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

導致全身性紅斑狼瘡（Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE）的確切病因迄今仍未明，不過目前大致已知與遺傳、荷爾蒙、紫外線、藥物及感染原有關。根據過去的研究發現，Epstein-Barr virus （EBV）在SLE的發病中應扮演著重要的角色。本篇整理過去探討EBV與SLE關係的報告，綜合這些研究結果可以發現，EBV與SLE發病相關的論點目前分別可以由：1.免疫功能（T細胞毒殺功能、T細胞的調控功能以及B細胞的增生），2.分子結構相似性（SLE患者自體抗原與EBV蛋白）、3.流行病學以及4.EBV存在的證據諸方面獲得支持。展望未來，隨著EBV之相關深入研究，將有助於解開SLE致病之謎。

The etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still not completely understood to date. However, several factors including genetics, hormones, UV light, several medications and some infectious agents have been believed to relate with the pathogenesis of SLE. According to many previous studies, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been found to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SLE. This article reviewed the previous studies upon the association between EBV infection and SLE from four aspects, including immune defect upon EBV infection in SLE patients, molecular mimicry between lupus auto-antigen and EBV protein, epidemic study of EBV infection in SLE patients and the existence of EBV in SLE patients. In the future, the further investigations upon EBV infection and SLE may be helpful to clarify the pathogenesis of SLE.