Activation of Suppressor T Cells during Epstein-Barr-Virus-Induced Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an unusual human pathogen because it preferentially infects B lymphocytes and consequently activates them to produce immunoglobulins. When cultures of lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis were stimulated with polyclonal activators, unseparated cells failed to produce immunoglobulins, whereas purified B cells responded normally. Cocultures demonstrated profound suppressor T-cell activity in blood from patients with infectious mononucleosis. Early in this disease, circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells were elevated, but during the second week their number was strikingly depressed. These data indicate that during infectious mononucleosis, EBV causes polyclonal activation of B cells, reflected by hypergammaglobulinemia and increased circulating immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Next, suppressor T cells become activated and inhibit further B-cell activation. Thus, activation of suppressor T cells in infectious mononucleosis provides a unique additional mechanism of host defense because these T cells inhibit the activation and proliferation of an important target of the causative virus. (N Engl J Med 301:1133–1137, 1979)