title: Immunologic properties of Epstein-Barr virus-seronegative adults.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seronegativity is rare in people > 20 years old. However, some persons remain EBV-seronegative for nearly their whole lives. The aim of this study was to examine properties of the immune system of EBV-seronegative adults that could contribute to long-term EBV seronegativity. Therefore, differential blood cell counts and lymphocyte subpopulations were determined, and the production of interferon (INF)-alpha and -gamma and interleukin (IL)-6 and -2 in a whole blood assay was investigated. Whereas no differences in the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations between EBV-seronegative and -positive adults were found, a significant higher percentage of monocytes in EBV-seronegative adults was observed. Significantly more IFN-alpha and IL-6 were detected in culture supernatants of EBV-seronegative persons after stimulation with Newcastle disease virus. In contrast, no differences in the induction of the lymphokines IFN-gamma and IL-2 were seen. These data suggest that faster and higher production of IFN-alpha and IL-6 amy protect EBV-seronegative adults against EBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jabs
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neustock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klüter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons