title: Inflammatory cytokine production in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.
abstract: In order to clarify the mechanisms underlying the development of inflammation in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CABEV), we examined cytokine production using patient samples. Eleven patients were analyzed. The serum concentrations of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients than in healthy donors. The mRNAs of these cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were elevated in patients as compared with healthy donors. The mRNA of IFN-γ was significantly higher in patients than in healthy donors. We examined which fraction produced the cytokines in the CD4-, CD8-, and CD56-positive fractions of PBMCs. The mRNAs of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 were highly expressed in EBV-infected cells, whereas expression was also observed in non-infected cells. We performed in vitro infection of EBV on a T-cell line, MOLT4. EBV infection enhanced the mRNA expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α. These results suggest that the inflammatory cytokines in CAEBV are produced not only by EBV-infected but also non-infected cells. EBV itself may have roles in the cytokine production observed in infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onozawa
authors.forename: Haruna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Imadome
authors.forename: Akiho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsuzura
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000821:virology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha