Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) load and cytokine gene expression in activated T cells of chronic active EBV infection.
To identify the role of T cells in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, EBV and cytokine gene expression was quantified by use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among 6 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for chronic active EBV infection. Four of these patients showed clonal expansion of EBV-infected T cells. Quantitative PCR for EBV DNA in peripheral blood of patients with symptomatic chronic active EBV infection showed higher copy numbers of virus (mean, 1.45 x 10(5) copies/mL) than were seen in blood from patients with infectious mononucleosis (3.08 x 10(3) copies/mL) or with EBV-associated hemophagocytosis (2.95 x 10(4) copies/mL). Fractionated CD3(+) HLA-DR(+) cells from patients with chronic active EBV infection contained higher copy numbers than did CD3(+) HLA-DR(-) cells. Quantitative PCR for cytokines revealed that interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta genes were expressed at higher levels in HLA-DR(+) than in HLA-DR(-) T cells. These results suggest that activated T cells in chronic active EBV infection expressed high levels of EBV DNA and both Th1 and Th2 cytokines. EBV-infected T cells may contribute to the unbalanced cytokine profiles of chronic mononucleosis.
Ohga
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. ohgas@pediatr.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Nomura
A
A
Takada
H
H
Ihara
K
K
Kawakami
K
K
Yanai
F
F
Takahata
Y
Y
Tanaka
T
T
Kasuga
N
N
Hara
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma