Oligo-monoclonal immunoglobulins frequently develop during concurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections in patients after renal transplantation.
In the present study we report that the appearance of oligo-monoclonal immunoglobulins (oligoM-Igs) in the sera of transplanted individuals is concurrent with the detection of coincident active CMV infection and EBV replication. Eighty-four renal allograft patients were monitored with respect to CMV isolation, to CMV conventional serology and humoral response against the EBV trans-activator ZEBRA (an immediate-early antigen also called BZLF1). Titration of anti-ZEBRA antibodies (IgG and IgM) and amount of EBV DNA in serum were evaluated. Using the combination of four techniques (agarose gel electrophoresis, analytical isoelectric focusing, high resolution immunoelectrophoresis, immunofixation electrophoresis), oligoM-Igs were found in 25% of patients after allografting and significantly associated with rejection episodes (P < 0.001). Twenty out of 23 (86%) concurrent CMV/EBV infections were associated with serum oligoM-Igs (P < 0.001). One can thus reasonably assume that a sustained EBV replication following iatrogenic immunosuppression can promote the immunoglobulin heavy chain expression in EBV-infected B lymphocytes. The proliferation of immunoglobulin-secreting clones might occur after active CMV infection, through a transient over-immunosuppression or via immune subversion.
Drouet
E
E
Unité d'Immunologie Virale, Faculté de Médecine/Pharmacie de Grenoble ESA 5082 CNRS, La Tronche, France. Emmanuel.Drouet@ujf-grenoble.fr
Chapuis-Cellier
C
C
Bosshard
S
S
Verniol
C
C
Niveleau
A
A
Touraine
J L
JL
Garnier
J L
JL
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008998:Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / Q000821:virology*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014775:Virus Activation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins