title: Analysis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) receptor CD21 on peripheral B lymphocytes of long-term EBV- adults.
abstract: Primary infections with EBV are rarely observed after the age of 20. Some individuals even remain seronegative all their lives. Previously, a lack of EBV receptors on B cells of persistently EBV- adults was described as a reason for long-term EBV-seronegativity. The present study examined the CD21 receptor status of 20 repeatedly EBV- healthy adults and 32 EBV+ volunteers by means of flow cytometry. CD21 molecules on the surface of CD19+ B cells were quantified using anti-IgG-coated microbeads. The percentage of CD19+/CD21+ B lymphocytes was slightly lower in the peripheral blood of EBV- donors, but the CD21 antibody binding capacity on CD19+ B cells showed no significant differences between EBV- and EBV+ adults. In vitro studies showed an equally good EBV transformability of peripheral B lymphocytes of EBV- and EBV+ donors. Since HLA-DR was recently described as a co-receptor for EBV infection of B cells, we also determined HLA-DRB1 alleles in the EBV- group. We found a significant negative association of EBV-seronegativity with HLA-DR13 in comparison with 111 healthy blood donors. In summary, a biologically significant lack of the EBV receptor CD21 on peripheral B lymphocytes of persistently EBV- adults was excluded as a reason for long-term EBV-seronegativity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Lübeck, Germany. jabs@immu.mu-luebeck.de
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jabs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klüter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d