Activation of suppressor T cells during Epstein-Barr-virus-induced infectious mononucleosis.
Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an unusual human pathogen because it preferentially infects B lymphocytes and consequently activates them to produce immunoglobulins. When cultures of lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis were stimulated with polyclonal activators, unseparated cells failed to produce immunoglobulins, whereas purified B cells responded normally. Cocultures demonstrated profound suppressor T-cell activity in blood from patients with infectious mononucleosis. Early in this disease, circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells were elevated, but during the second week their number was strikingly depressed. These data indicate that during infectious mononucleosis, EBV causes polyclonal activation of B cells, reflected by hypergammaglobulinemia and increased circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Next, suppressor T cells become activated and inhibit further B-cell activation. Thus, activation of suppressor T cells in infectious mononucleosis provides a unique additional mechanism of host defense because these T cells inhibit the activation and proliferation of an important target of the causative virus.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D007136:Immunoglobulins