Transient reduction in IgA+and IgG+memory B cell numbers in young EBV-seropositive children: the Generation R Study.
The EBV is known to persist in memory B cells, but it remains unclear how this affects cell numbers and humoral immunity. We here studied EBV persistence in memory B cell subsets and consequences on B cell memory in young children. EBV genome loads were quantified in 6 memory B cell subsets in EBV+adults. The effects of EBV infection on memory B cell numbers and vaccination responses were studied longitudinally in children within the Generation R population cohort between 14 mo and 6 yr of age. EBV genomes were more numerous in CD27+IgG+, CD27+IgA+, and CD27-IgA+memory B cells than in IgM-only, natural effector, and CD27-IgG+B cells. The blood counts of IgM-only, CD27+IgA+, CD27-IgG+, and CD27+IgG+memory B cells were significantly lower in EBV+children than in uninfected controls at 14 mo of age-the age when these cells peak in numbers. At 6 yr, all of these memory B cell counts had normalized, as had plasma IgG levels to previous primary measles and booster tetanus vaccinations. In conclusion, EBV persists predominantly in Ig class-switched memory B cells, even when derived from T cell-independent responses (CD27-IgA+), and EBV infection results in a transient depletion of these cells in young children.
Department of Immunology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Diana
D
van den Heuvel
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Michelle A E
MA
Jansen
Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Andrew I
AI
Bell
Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Alan B
AB
Rickinson
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and.
Vincent W V
VW
Jaddoe
Department of Immunology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Jacques J M
JJ
van Dongen
Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Henriette A
HA
Moll
Department of Immunology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; menno.vanzelm@monash.edu.|Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Menno C
MC
van Zelm
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
Epstein-Barr virus; herpes virus; humoral immunity; pediatric infection