Elevated serum transforming growth factor beta1 levels in Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases and their correlation with virus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM

J Xu; A Ahmad; J F Jones; R Dolcetti; E Vaccher; U Prasad; J Menezes

doi:10.1128/jvi.74.5.2443-2446.2000

Elevated serum transforming growth factor beta1 levels in Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases and their correlation with virus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM

J Virol. 2000 Mar;74(5):2443-6. doi: 10.1128/jvi.74.5.2443-2446.2000.

Authors

J Xu¹, A Ahmad, J F Jones, R Dolcetti, E Vaccher, U Prasad, J Menezes

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Immunovirology, Pediatric Research Center and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Montreal and Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is an immunosuppressive cytokine which can induce immunoglobulin A (IgA) switch and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication in latently infected cells. Here we report elevated serum levels of TGF-beta in various EBV-associated diseases correlating positively with EBV-specific IgA titers and negatively with IgM titers, suggesting a role for this cytokine in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral / blood*
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / blood*
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
Humans
Immunoglobulin A / blood
Immunoglobulin M / blood
Regression Analysis
Transforming Growth Factor beta / blood*

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin M
Transforming Growth Factor beta