Roles of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's syndrome

Primary Sjogren′s syndrome (pSS) is a kind of chronic autoimmune disease affecting many organs of the body. The pathogenesis of pSS is still debated. Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), also called human herpesvirus-4, belongs to the herpesviridae family. Researchers have found that EBV is associated with pSS. With the deepening of researches, more evidences and opinions about the participation of EBV in the pathogenesis of pSS have emerged. EBV can cause the development of pSS in multiple ways. In this review, we summarize the roles of EBV in the pathogenesis of pSS. Key words: Sjogren′s syndrome; Epstein-Barr virus; Interferon; Lymphoma