title: A novel animal model of Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in humanized mice.
abstract: EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is a rare yet devastating disorder caused by EBV infection in humans. However, the mechanism of this disease has yet to be elucidated because of a lack of appropriate animal models. Here, we used a human CD34(+) cell-transplanted humanized mouse model and reproduced pathologic conditions resembling EBV-HLH in humans. By 10 weeks postinfection, two-thirds of the infected mice died after exhibiting high and persistent viremia, leukocytosis, IFN-γ cytokinenemia, normocytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. EBV-infected mice also showed systemic organ infiltration by activated CD8(+) T cells and prominent hemophagocytosis in BM, spleen, and liver. Notably, the level of EBV load in plasma correlated directly with both the activation frequency of CD8(+) T cells and the level of IFN-γ in plasma. Moreover, high levels of EBV-encoded small RNA1 were detected in plasma of infected mice, reflecting what has been observed in patients. These findings suggest that our EBV infection model mirrors virologic, hematologic, and immunopathologic aspects of EBV-HLH. Furthermore, in contrast to CD8(+) T cells, we found a significant decrease of natural killer cells, myeloid dendritic cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the spleens of infected mice, suggesting that the collapse of balanced immunity associates with the progression of EBV-HLH pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virus Pathogenesis, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Chuanyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Yorifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Satou
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iwakiri
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuzushima
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D004279:DNA, Viral; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma