Evaluation of apoptosis in Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be a causative agent of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). To investigate association of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of EBV-associated HLH, the serum EBV loads, and serum concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), soluble Fas ligand, and cytochrome c were examined in 15 patients with EBV-associated HLH and 24 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Levels of sTNF-R1 are known to reflect the biological activity of TNF-alpha and cytochrome c is a specific marker of apoptosis. EBV loads, and concentrations of sTNF-R1 and cytochrome c were significantly higher in patients with EBV-associated HLH than in patients with IM. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of soluble Fas ligand. In patients with EBV-associated HLH, EBV loads, concentrations of sTNF-R1, and cytochrome c were correlated with each other. These results suggest that apoptosis, which is dependent on the EBV load and could be mediated by TNF-alpha, plays a major role in the pathophysiology of EBV-associated HLH.
Kawada
Jun-Ichi
J
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
Kimura
Hiroshi
H
Shibata
Yukiko
Y
Hara
Shinya
S
Hoshino
Yo
Y
Kojima
Seiji
S
Nishikawa
Kazuo
K
Morishima
Tsuneo
T
D017209:Apoptosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000097:blood; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D045304:Cytochromes c