Inverse relationship between Epstein-Barr virus serostatus and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody levels

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is suspected of being involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in pancreatic islet autoimmunity remains to be determined. In the present study, the relationship between EBV serostatus and serum level of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), a common marker of pancreatic islet autoimmunity, was investigated. Serum samples were collected from 158 individuals (aged 2–25 years) with GADA levels ≥ 0.7 U/mL and the EBV serostatus of each individual was determined. EBV seropositive (EBV+) individuals were defined as positive for both serum VCA IgG and EBNA IgG and EBV seronegative (EBV-) individuals were negative for these antibodies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between EBV serostatus and GADA levels. EBV+ individuals tend to have lower GADA levels than EBV- individuals (p = 0.053). After adjustment for gender and age, mean GADA levels were significantly lower in EBV+ individuals than in EBV- individuals (9.34 U/mL versus 17.49 U/mL, respectively, p = 0.015). The lower GADA levels in EBV+ individuals suggest that there is an inverse relationship between pancreatic islet autoimmunity and EBV serostatus. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of EBV in pancreatic islet autoimmunity.