Epstein–Barr virus effect on frequency of functionally distinct T cell subsets in children with infectious mononucleosis

PurposeEpstein–Barr virus is a common human pathogen which infects the great majority of population worldwide. A striking proliferation of CD8+ T cells is an immune response to EBV invasion of B lymphocytes during infectious mononucleosis. The aim of the study was to analyze frequencies of CD28+CD95−, CD28+CD95+, CD28−CD95+ T cell subsets putative naïve (TN), central (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) T cells in children with infectious mononucleosis.Material/methodsMultiparameter flow cytometric analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets was performed in 19 children with acute infectious mononucleosis.ResultsThe CD4+/CD8+ ratio was found to be decreased (0.53) in children with infectious mononucleosis. Median TN, TCM, TEM frequencies were estimated to be 3.7, 4.5, 15.1% of CD8+ and 23, 59.3, 5.5% of CD4+ T cells, respectively. In the present study we demonstrated negative correlations between CD8+CD28+CD95+ and CD8+CD28−CD95+ T cells and both VCA IgM antibody titers and disease duration. However, no such correlation was found when subset of CD4+ T cells or CD8+CD28+CD95− cells was compared.ConclusionsWe conclude that there is a rapid decrease in the number of memory CD8+ T cells in early acute stage of infectious mononucleosis.