Blood lymphocyte distributions, serum
immunoglobulin and
cytokine levels, and serum
IgE and
IgG anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) levels were measured in an atopic girl (age 15 yr) who developed
shingles 10 yr after
infection with
chicken pox. Before, during, and 5 months after the
shingles episode, the child's distributions of blood lymphocytes (excluding CD23+) and serum
immunoglobulin levels (excluding
IgE) were within the normal ranges. Her blood level of CD23+ lymphocytes decreased >50% during the
shingles episode and remained low thereafter. Her serum level of
IgE was elevated before and during
shingles (154 and 168 IU/ml, respectively), but was reduced after recovery from
shingles (<100 IU/ml). Before, during, and after
shingles, her serum contained
IgE and
IgG anti-VZV
antibodies. Before, during, and after
shingles, low levels of IFN-gamma were detected in serum, but neither IL-1beta nor
IL-4 were detected. Before
shingles, low levels of
IL-10 were detected in serum; during
shingles, the serum level of
IL-10 was increased 30-fold; it subsequently diminished at 5 mo after
shingles. The role of
IgE in immunity against varicella zoster virus (VZV) has not previously been studied. Our observations in this patient suggest that
immunomodulation of
IgE and accessory
proteins may play a role in VZV pathogenesis.