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Defective Immune Response to Epstein‐Barr Virus in Patients with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Author(s) -
Wakiguchi Hiroshi,
Fujieda Mikiya,
Matsumoto Kenji,
Ohara Yuji,
Wakiguchi Akiko,
Kurashige Takanobu
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1989.tb01280.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunology , antibody , antigen , cytotoxic t cell , fulminant , immune system , virus , raji cell , cytotoxicity , virology , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
Thirteen children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) receiving maintenance chemotherapy were tested for anti‐Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) antibodies, EBV specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (EBVCTL) activity and spontaneous cytotoxicity against Raji cells in order to define the defective cellular immunity in ALL children during complete remission. Among 10 seropositive patients, anti‐virus capsid antigen (VCA) antibody titer vaned from 1:20 to 1:320 and anti‐EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody was not detectable in four. No patients were positive for antiearly antigen (EA) antibody. EBVCTL activity and inter‐leukin 2 (IL‐2) or interferon a (IFNα) augmented EBVCTL activity in eight seropositive patients was significantly lower than that in the seropositive age matched control group. IFNα, OK432 or IL‐2 augmented spontaneous cytotoxicity were also significantly lower in the patients compared to those in the control group. These defective killer cell activities may allow EBV‐infections to enter a severe, fulminant or persistently active state in the patients with ALL receiving aggressive maintenance chemotherapy. ( Acta Paediatr Jpn 1989; 31: 144–149)