Exposure to holoendemic malaria results in suppression of Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cell immunosurveillance in Kenyan children.
BACKGROUND
Malaria and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection are cofactors in the pathogenesis of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL). The mechanisms by which these pathogens predispose to eBL are not known.


METHODS
Healthy Kenyan children with divergent malaria exposure were measured for responses to EBV latent and lytic antigens by interferon (IFN)- gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and interleukin (IL)-10 ELISA. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), purified protein derivative (PPD), and T cell epitope peptides derived from merozoite surface protein (MSP)-1, a malaria blood-stage antigen, were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Children 5-9 years old living in an area holoendemic for malaria had significantly fewer EBV-specific IFN- gamma responses than did children of the same age living in an area with unstable malaria transmission. This effect was not observed for children <5 years old or those >9 years old. In contrast, IFN- gamma responses to PHA, PPD, and Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1 peptides did not significantly differ by age. IL-10 responses to EBV lytic antigens, PPD, and PHA correlated inversely with malaria exposure regardless of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Children living in malaria-holoendemic areas have diminished EBV-specific T cell immunosurveillance between the ages of 5 and 9 years, which coincides with the peak age incidence of eBL.
Moormann
Ann M
AM
Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. moorms@case.edu
Chelimo
Kiprotich
K
Sumba
Peter O
PO
Tisch
Daniel J
DJ
Rochford
Rosemary
R
Kazura
James W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*