Strong Response of T Cells in Infants with Dual Infection by Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus

Background: Although a reversed CD4/CD8 ratio and increased proportion of CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells are well known as the characteristic immune response in infectious mononucleosis (IM), it has not been elucidated whether these immune responses are affected by patient age and pathogenetic viruses.

Methods: T cell subsets were analyzed by two-color flow cytometry using fluorescein isothiocyanate- and phycoerythrin-conjugated monoclonal antibodies in 115 infants and children aged from 4 months to 10 years with IM due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and dual infection with both viruses.

Results: A reversed CD4/CD8 ratio and increased proportions of CD4+/HLA-DR+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD8+/HLA-DR+ T cells became more prominent as the age of the patients became older. No differences were observed in proportions of T cell subsets between EBV- and CMV-infection among patients aged from 6 to 17 months. Although the responses of these T cells were weak in infants with single virus infection by EBV and CMV, markedly strong T cell responses comparable with those in older children were observed in infants with EBV/CMV dual infection. Clinical symptoms were more severe in patients with EBV/CMV dual infection than those with EBV or CMV alone.

Conclusion: The manner of these T cell responses in the acute phase of IM was considered to be age dependent, although strong T cell responses and severe disease were observed in EBV/CMV dual infection irrespective of patient age.