Potential pathogens in multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis is a neuroimmunological disease in which etiologic agents have not been identified yet. The etiology of MS is complex in its nature and may involve many different agents acting simultaneously or in a cascade manner leading to the development of the disease. The causes of MS development were sought among the factors associated with HLA and TCR genes and human endogenous retroviruses (HERV). Environmental factors such as bacterial, fungal and viral infections as well as potential participation of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of the disease have also been examined. The current state of knowledge concerning potential factors participating in the etiopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis has been reviewed in this paper.