relating to ME and CFS. This particular study looks for markers of EBV
reactivation in asymptomatic individuals. Sorting out markers may
prove important in determining reactivation of viruses in patients.
J Med Virol. 2012 Jan;84(1):119-31. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22258.
Longitudinal analysis of frequency and reactivity of epstein-barr
virus-specific T lymphocytes and their association with intermittent
viral reactivation.
Vogl BA, Fagin U, Nerbas L, Schlenke P, Lamprecht P, Jabs WJ.
Department of Medicine I, University of Luebeck School of Medicine,
Luebeck, Germany.
Abstract
Persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is controlled tightly by
virus-specific T cells. EBV infection is reactivated intermittently
over time, even in apparently healthy carriers. Changes in frequency
and reactivity of memory T cells, particularly of CD8(+) origin, have
not been assessed in this context.
It is hypothesized that viral reactivation is facilitated by
diminished EBV-specific T-cell immunity. To this end, blood samples
from 14 healthy donors were collected at irregular time intervals for
a period of about 1 year. Samples were screened for both EBV plasma
viremia and increases in viral load in PBMCs as parameters of EBV
reactivation.
PBMCs were subject to IFN-=E3 ELISPOT analysis using the autologous
EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (EBV-LCL) or appropriate HLA
class I-restricted EBV peptides as stimulators. Frequencies of
epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells were monitored further using HLA
tetramers and flow cytometry.
Twelve of 14 donors exhibited signs of asymptomatic EBV reactivation.
Viral reactivation was accompanied by either substantially decreased
IFN-=E3 responses against autologous EBV-LCL (eight of 12 study
participants) and/or increased responses against particular EBV
peptides (six of 12 donors).
In seven persons with HLA-A2 and/or -B8 alleles numbers of HLA
tetramer-positive CD8(+) T cells also varied over time, but showed no
correlation to episodes of detectable viral activity.
In summary, IFN-=E3 reactivity of EBV-specific T cells is not constant.
Viral reactivation is detected preferably at times of diminished
EBV-LCL-specific cellular immunity. However, increased reactivity of
single immunodominant CD8(+) EBV-specific T-cell clones may occur in
response to virus replication.
J. Med. Virol. 84:119-131, 2011. =A9 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Copyright =A9 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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