Immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus in atomic bomb survivors: study of precursor frequency of cytotoxic lymphocytes and titer levels of anti-Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies.
Precursor frequencies of cytotoxic lymphocytes to autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells and serum titers of anti-Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies were measured in 68 atomic bomb survivors to clarify the immune mechanism controlling Epstein-Barr virus infection. The precursor frequency was negatively correlated with the titer of anti-early antigen IgG, which is probably produced at the stage of viral reactivation. A positive correlation between the precursor frequency and titer of anti-Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen antibody was also observed, indicating that the precursor frequency reflects the degree of in vivo destruction by T cells of the virus-infected cells. These results suggest that T-cell memory specific to Epstein-Barr virus keeps the virus under control and that the precursor frequency assay is useful for the evaluation of immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus. However, no significant effect of atomic bomb radiation on the precursor frequency was observed in the present study, probably due to the limited number of participants.
Kusunoki
Y
Y
Department of Radiobiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan.
Kyoizumi
S
S
Fukuda
Y
Y
Huang
H
H
Saito
M
M
Ozaki
K
K
Hirai
Y
Y
Akiyama
M
M
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000528:radiation effects; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D012737:Sex Factors; D013534:Survival; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M