Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2023 | Epstein-Barr Virus | Research
Interleukin-37 is involved in the immunopathogenesis of infectious mononucleosis
Published in: Italian Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 1/2023
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Background
Multiple immunopathological responses to viruses are observed in infectious mononucleosis (IM), a manifestation of primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Protective effects of the negative immunoregulatory molecule interleukin-37 (IL-37) have been observed in various bacterial and viral infections. However, the function of IL-37 in IM remains unknown.
Methods
Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the expression of IL-37 in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with IM, and the variation of lymphocyte subsets. Furthermore, the associations between IL-37 expression and the percentage of lymphocyte subgroups were analyzed.
Results
Patients with IM had severe immune dysfunction. The control group had a lower expression of IL-37 than the patients with IM. There were significant associations between IL-37 expression and both the proportion of CD3+T cells and the ratio of CD3+CD4+ to CD3+CD8+T cells. Patients with higher levels of IL-37 expression had lower levels of the liver inflammation indicators, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
Conclusions
IL-37 may affect the immune pathogenesis of patients with IM infected with EBV, and may have immunotherapeutic benefit for EBV-associated illnesses.