Researchers discovered specific immune response against Epstein-Barr virus
Infection with the Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) usually occurs in young childhood, then usually runs its course without symptoms and has no consequences in most people. However, the pathogen can also cause serious diseases. Researchers now have one specific immune response detected against the virus.
So far it has not been possible to explain why Epstein-Barr-Virus glandular fever in some of those infected for the first time and not in others. A research team has now discovered a specific immune response against EPV as the cause and thus a new possible target for the development of vaccines. The study results were published in the journal “Blood‘ published by the American Society of Hematology.
Replication mainly fought by T-cells
As in one Message of the Medical University (MedUni) Vienna, the proliferation of the Epstein-Barr virus in the body is combated by an antiviral immune response, primarily using T cells.
In addition to the classic T cell mechanisms, there is also a “non-classic” T-Zellantwort, which leads to the destruction of virus-infected cells. Here certain EBV components (peptides) are presented to the T cells by a specific molecule (HLA-E) which is located on the surface of EBV-infected cells.
Due to a gene variation (HLA-E*0103/0103) there are naturally more in around a third of the population HLA-E-Molecule present on cells.
Gene variant plays an important role
A research team Elisabeth Puchhammer-StöcklHead of the Center for Virology at MedUni Vienna, has shown in the current study, in cooperation with colleagues from the university departments for thoracic surgery and for internal medicine III at MedUni Vienna and the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, that the risk of developing glandular fever after EBV infection depends heavily on this non-classical EBV-specific immune response.
“In our research, we found that people with the HLA-E*0103/0103-Gen-Variant much less likely to develop mononucleosis than people who carry another HLA-E variant.”explains the first author of the study, Hannes Vietzen from MedUni Vienna’s Center for Virology.
“Like our laborexperiment revealed, this gene variant was also associated with a strong EBV-specific immune response.”
One of the most common viral infections
EBV infections are among the most common human viral infections. The initial infection with the virus causes mononucleosis in some children and young adults (Infectious mononucleosis), which is characterized by non-specific symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion, some of which lasts for months.
Why a first-time EBV infection only causes mononucleosis in a minority of people and none at all in most symptoms until now was unclear.
With the EBV-specific immune response, the scientists not only identified the cause of this phenomenon, but also a possible target for research into preventive measures.
“Because this immune response was still measurable years after the first EBV infection and has a long-lasting Schutz against re-infection with EBV, it might be worth targeting this mechanism for the development of future vaccines”says Hannes Vietzen.
Opportunities for future diagnostic possibilities
Opportunities for future diagnostic options could lie in another finding from the study.
According to Vietzen, the combination of unfavorable HLA-E gene variants and certain EBV peptides also appears in the development of EBV-associated lymph gland cancer to play an important role in immunocompromised patients after transplantation.
According to the researcher, there may be one Analyse of the EBV strains detected in these patients is helpful in order to be able to identify risk patients early and treat them in good time. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Medical University of Vienna: Specific immune response against Epstein-Barr virus discovered, (accessed: January 25, 2023), medical university Vienna
- Hannes Vietzen, Philippe L. Furlano, Jan J Cornelissen, Georg A. Böhmig, Peter Jaksch, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl: HLA-E-Restricted Immune Responses Are Crucial for the Control of EBV Infections and the Prevention of PTLD; in: Blood, (veröffentlicht: 07.12.2023), Blood
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.