Impact of Epstein-Barr virus infection on immune response in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20250081
- VernacularTitle:EB病毒感染对系统性红斑狼疮患者免疫应答的影响
- Author:
Chihui LI
1
;
Jianfeng QI
1
;
Wei WENG
1
Author Information
1. 金华市人民医院检验科,浙江金华 321000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Epstein-Barr virus;
systemic lupus erythematosus;
immune response;
interferon-α;
white blood cells;
interleukin-2;
reactivation of infection
- From:
Immunological Journal
2025;41(8):564-572
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the impact of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection on immune responses among systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients.Methods AA total of 103 SLE patients(SLE group),50 rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients(RA group),and 120 healthy physical examinees(control group)were enrolled from May 2022 to April 2024.Anti-EBV CA IgG,IgA,IgM,anti-EBV EA IgM,and anti-EBV NA IgG,IgA antibody levels were measured using direct chemiluminescent magnetic particle-based indirect immunoassay,and positive rates were compared among groups.SLE patients were further divided into reactivated infection and past infection groups based on anti-EBV antibody profiles.Non-specific and specific immune response markers were assessed.Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from two groups were isolated via fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS)for transcriptomic sequencing.Results The positive rate of anti-EBV CA IgA antibody in the SLE group[22.30％(23/103)]was higher than that in the RA group[6.00％(3/50)]and the control group[5.00％(6/120)],showing significant difference(P＜0.05).In SLE patients,anti-EBV EA IgM antibody was positively correlated with interferon-α(IFN-α)(r=0.1984,P＜0.05);anti-EBV CA IgM antibody was positively correlated with interleukin(IL)-2,IL-5,and IL-1β(r=0.1980,0.2553,0.1797,P＜0.05);anti-EBV CA IgG antibody was positively correlated with IL-5(r=0.2769,P＜0.05),IL-2(r=0.1820,P＜0.05),IL-8(r=0.1920,P＜0.05),and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)(r=0.1807,P＜0.05).Anti-EBV NA IgG antibody was positively correlated with IL-4(r=0.2015,P＜0.05),IL-8(r=0.2395,P＜0.05),and IL-17(r=0.1795,P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with IL-5(r=-0.2212,P＜0.05).Anti-EBV NA IgG antibody in SLE patients was positively correlated with IgG(r-0.2731,P＜0.05),and anti-EBV CA IgM antibody was positively correlated with IgM(r=0.2614,P＜0.05);anti-EBV EA IgM antibody was negatively correlated with white blood count(r=-0.2742,P＜0.05),neutrophil count(r=-0.2249,P＜0.05),lymphocyte count(r=-0.2723,P＜0.05),and monocyte count(r=-0.2275,P＜0.05),and anti-EBV NA IgA antibody was positively correlated with IgA results(r=0.3231,P＜0.05).The anti-EBV CA IgA antibody-positive SLE group showed elevated levels of the nonspecific immune response marker IgA and decreased levels of C3 and C4,as compared with the anti-EBV CA IgA antibody-negative SLE group,RA group,and control group(P＜0.05).Additionally,when compared with the RA group and control group,the anti-EBV CA IgA antibody-positive SLE group had reduced specific immune response parameters,including CD16+56+,CD 19,and the CD4/CD8 ratio(P＜0.05).Results from transcriptomic sequencing of peripheral blood T lymphocytes revealed upregulation of IL-2,IL-5,IL-8 and IFN-γ in reactivated infection group,as compared with the past infection group(P＜0.05).Results of the differential gene enrichment analysis between the two groups revealed that the differentially expressed genes were primarily associated with inflammatory signaling pathways,such as"inflammatory response activation,""inflammasome formation,"and"inflammatory cytokine release."Conclusion SLE patients demonstrate higher EBV activity.EBV infection may exacerbate SLE's inflammatory microenvironment by activating Th1/Th2 immune responses and promote humoral immune activation.
