Changes in T-lymphocyte subsets during childhood Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis

• Published in: Journal of clinical immunology 1983-04, Vol.3 (2), p.151-155
• Main Authors: Weigle, K A, Sumaya, C V, Montiel, M M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aging; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Epstein-Barr virus; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Infant; Infectious Mononucleosis - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - classification; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - physiology
• ISSN: 0271-9142; 1573-2592
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00915486

Lymphocyte subsets were measured using monoclonal antibodies in 11 children with Epstein-Barr virus-induced infectious mononucleosis and compared with those of 10 normal children. In acute infectious mononucleosis the percentage of T8+ lymphocytes was greater while the percentage of T4+ lymphocytes and the T4+ to T8+ ratio were less than those measured in normal children. The percentage and absolute number of T lymphocytes, as enumerated by E rosetting, did not differ from the values for normal children. The children with acute infectious mononucleosis had a somewhat lower T8+ response than that observed in four adult infectious mononucleosis patients. With clinical recovery, the T lymphocyte-subset values returned toward normal. T8+ lymphocytes, a phenotype subset with predominantly suppressor activity, presumably reduce normal cellular immune functions transiently and may limit the continued proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B lymphocytes.