The cellular basis for viral-induced immunodeficiency: analysis by monoclonal antibodies.
Viral infections are often associated with immunodeficiency states. Although T lymphocytes have been thought to suppress the host's response, the precise etiology remains unclear. Therefore, we characterized T lymphocytes from six patients during both acute and convalescent phases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) with monoclonal antibodies (titer, 10(-5) to 10(-7) to antigens restricted to the TH2- helper (T4) and TH2 suppressor (T5) T cell subsets as well as to a common T cell antigen (T3) and HLA-D related Ia antigens. It was found that during acute infectious mononucleosis, there is both activation and increase of suppressor T cells (T5+, Ia+ phenotype). Fuctionally, the acute IM lymphocytes suppress autologous T cell proliferation to antigens as well as pokeweed mitogen driven B cell immunoglobulin production. In contrast, convalescence is associated with a return to normal of T cell subsets and immune function. These results demonstrate that viral infections can preferentially activate a specific T cell subset and suppress the overall human immune response.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens