Detailed analysis of Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses during infectious mononucleosis

Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Aug;153(2):231-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03699.x. Epub 2008 Jun 28.

Abstract

We studied simultaneously Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses during and after infectious mononucleosis (IM), using a previously described 12-day stimulation protocol with EBNA1 or BZLF1 peptide pools. Effector function of EBV-specific T cells was determined after restimulation by measuring intracellular interferon-gamma production. During IM, BZLF1-specifc CD4(+) T cell responses were dominant compared with CD8(+) T cell responses. EBNA1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses were low and remained similar for 6 months. However, 6 months after IM, BZLF1-specific CD4(+) T cell responses had declined, but CD8(+) T cell responses had increased. At diagnosis, EBV-specific CD8(+) T cells as studied by human leucocyte antigen class I tetramer staining comprised a tetramer(bright)CD8(bright) population consisting mainly of CD27(+) memory T cells and a tetramer(dim)CD8(dim) population consisting primarily of CD27(-) effector T cells. The remaining EBV-specific CD8(+) T cell population 6 months after the diagnosis of IM consisted mainly of tetramer(bright)CD8(bright) CD27(+) T cells, suggesting preferential preservation of memory T cells after contraction of the EBV-specific T cell pool.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / immunology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets
  • Time
  • Trans-Activators / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / analysis

Substances

  • BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
  • Interferon-gamma
  • EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1