EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS-RELATED ANTIBODY PATTERNS IN ATAXIA-TELANGIECTASIA

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus-related antibody [Ab] titers were determined in 27 patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and 22 health members of their families, in 22 patients with other diseases (among them 10 with Behcet''s disease and 10 with various primary immune deficiencies) and 15 healthy members of their families, and in 23 unrelated healthy controls. The AT patients showed an increased incidence (55.6%) of high Ab titers (.gtoreq. 1:320) to viral capsid antigen [Ag] (VCA) and a high incidence (48.2%) of Ab to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced early Ag (EA), but low titers (< 1:10) of Ab to the EBV-associated nuclear Ag (EBNA) in 44.2% of the cases. The geometric means of anti-VCA were 3- to 4-fold higher, and of anti-EBNA 6-fold lower, than those of the control groups. The patients with the other diseases did not differ significantly from the controls except for a higher incidence of anti-EBNA titers of < 1:10 (38.1% vs. 4-5%). AT patients with low anti-EBNA titers tended to have more advanced T [thymus-derived] cell deficiencies than AT patients with moderate anti-EBNA titers, as detected by counts of total lymphocytes and E[erythrocyte]-rosetting cells, and skin test responses. A functioning T cell system may be required to release EBNA from EBV genome-carrying cells for initial and maintained production of anti-EBNA.