Study of the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus infection and abnormal activation of B-lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) infection on the abnormal activation of peripheral B-iymphocytes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients,and the relationship between EBV infection and the abnormal activation of B-lymphocytes and SLE activity is explored. Methods BamH I-W genome in EBV DNA of 52 SLE patients and 23 controls were examined by PCR-Southern blotting. The level of ANA and EBV VCA-IgM in sera was measured by ELISA. The expression of CD19+ and expression rate of CD19+ and CD23+/CD19+ in EBV-positive SLE patients was higher than that of EBV-negative patients. Meanwhile,the fluorescence signal of CD23 in B cell of EBV-positive SLE patients was stronger than that of EBV-negative ones. Conclusion EBV infection may be related to abnormal activation of B-lymphocytes.EBV may infect and activate B-lymphocytes by up regulating the expression of CD23 of B-lymphocytes. The abnormal activation of B-lymphoeytes is associated with SLE activity.