Association of Epstein-Barr virus infection with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan.
An association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been suggested from previous serologic evidence. Since most adults in Taiwan are EBV-infected, seroepidemiologic studies based on standard assays for EBV are unlikely to dissociate SLE patients and control groups. We reexamine this question by using novel methodologies in which IgA anti-EBV-coded nuclear antigens-1 (EBNA-1) and IgG anti-EBV DNase antibodies were analysed by ELISA, and EBV viral loads were detected by real-time quantitative PCR for 93 adult SLE patients and 370 age-, sex- and living place-matched healthy controls in Taiwan. The specificities of antibodies for extractible nuclear antigens were determined by Western blot. Our results show that IgA anti-EBV EBNA1 antibodies were detectable in 31.2% SLE patients but only in 4.1% of controls (odds ratio [OR] = 10.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.19-22.35; P < 10(-7)), IgG anti-EBV DNase antibodies were detected in 53.8% SLE patients but only in 12.2% controls (OR = 8.40, 95% CI = 4.87-14.51; P < 10(-7)). EBV DNA was amplifiable from the sera of 41.9% SLE patients but from only 3.24% controls (P < 0.05). A significant association of IgG anti-EBV DNase antibodies with anti-Sm/RNP antibodies was observed (P < 0.005). The higher seroreactivity and higher copy numbers of EBV genome indicated association of EBV infection with SLE in Taiwan.
Lu
J J Y
JJ
National Taichung Nursing College, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chen
D Y
DY
Hsieh
C W
CW
Lan
J L
JL
Lin
F J
FJ
Lin
S H
SH
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000276:immunology; D013624:Taiwan; D019562:Viral Load; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1