Defective immune response to Epstein-Barr virus in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract

Thirteen children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) receiving maintenance chemotherapy were tested for anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies, EBV specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (EBV-CTL) 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 varied from 1:20 to 1:320 and anti-EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody was not detectable in four. No patients were positive for anti-early antigen (EA) antibody. EBV-CTL activity and interleukin 2 (IL-2) or interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) augmented EBV-CTL activity in eight seropositive patients was significantly lower than that in the seropositive age matched control group. IFN-alpha, OK-432 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.

• Authors: H Wakiguchi, M Fujieda, K Matsumoto, Y Ohara, A Wakiguchi, T Kurashige
• Journal: Acta paediatrica Japonica : Overseas edition (Acta Paediatr Jpn) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 144-9 (Apr 1989) ISSN: 0374-5600 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 2560606 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Interferon Type I
• Interleukin-2

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral (biosynthesis)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• In Vitro Techniques
• Interferon Type I (pharmacology)
• Interleukin-2 (pharmacology)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology)