title: Interleukin-17A-producing T lymphocytes in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: T helper (Th) 17 cells are reportedly effector T cells that produce interleukin (IL)-17A and play a significant role in the development of autoimmune diseases and immune responses for antimicrobial host defense. Production of IL-17A in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) was studied to investigate its contribution to pathogenesis of this disease. Significantly more IL-17A-producing cells were detected in the peripheral blood of CAEBV patients than in that of healthy controls, although a significant difference in serum IL-17A production was not confirmed. Of the IL-17A-producing cells, 91.8% were cluster of differentiation (CD)4-positive Th17 cells. Moreover, there were significantly more IL-17A-producing cells among CD4(+)  cells in peripheral blood of CAEBV patients than in that of controls (1.97 ± 0.69% vs. 1.09 ± 0.53%, P = 0.0073). These data suggest that IL-17A-producing cells may influence the pathophysiology of CAEBV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Showa‐ku, Nagoya 466‐8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Rieko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17