Major expansions of select CD8+ subsets in acute Epstein-Barr virus infection:: Comparison with chronic human immunodeficiency virus disease

CD8(+) lymphocyte phenotypes were characterized during acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and a comparison was made to previous studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This was of interest because CD8(+) cells contribute to immunologic control of both infections, but the usual outcome of EBSr infection is benign, whereas untreated HIV infection is fatal. During acute EBV infection, CD8(+) cells expressed elevated levels of the activation antigens CD38 and HLA-DR, similar to that during chronic HIV infection. Within 16 weeks, when EBV latency is established, CD8(+) cell activation had resolved. In contrast, activation persists in HIV infection. Expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD8(+) cells could be a marker for ongoing viral replication in both infections. Other CD8(+) cell alterations observed in this study of acute EBV infection included increases in both CD62L(-) and CD62L(+) CD8(+) cells and unique kinetics in the expansion of the CD57(+)CD8(+) cell subset.