Characterization of Immunoregulatory T Cells in EBV-Induced Infectious Mononucleosis by Monoclonal Antibodies

Abstract

IN infectious mononucleosis induced by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), an initial viral infection of B lymphocytes¹ is usually followed by an extensive proliferation of T cells.^{2 , 3} In functional studies these T cells are cytotoxic against EBV-infected lymphoid cells^{4 , 5} and inhibit their outgrowth.⁶ In addition, they suppress autologous T-cell proliferation to antigens as well as B-cell immunoglobulin production stimulated by pokeweed mitogen.^{7 , 8} They are thought to be of major importance in the self-limiting aspect of the disease.Maturation and differentiation of T-lymphoid cells into lymphocyte subsets with particular immunologic functions is expressed by distinctive patterns of cell-surface antigens.⁹ Recently, monoclonal antibodies directed . . .