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Large clonal expansions of CD8+ T cells in acute infectious mononucleosis

Nature Medicine volume 2, pages 906–911 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

Primary infection with Epstein–Barr virus often results in the clinical syndrome of acute infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever). This illness is characterized by a striking lymphocytosis, the nature of which has been controversial. We show that large monoclonal or oligoclonal populations of CD8+ T cells account for a significant proportion of the lymphocytosis and provide molecular evidence that these populations have been driven by antigen. The results suggest that the selective and massive expansion of a few dominant clones of CD8+ T cells is an important feature of the primary response to this virus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Immunology Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Margaret F.C. Callan, Pete Krausa, Jamie D.K. Wilson, Paul A.H. Moss, Geraldine M. Gillespie, John I. Bell & Andrew J. McMichael

  2. The University of Birmingham, CRC Institute for Cancer Studies, Medical School, Edgbaston, Birmingham, BI5 2TJ, UK

    Neil Steven & Alan B. Rickinson

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  1. Margaret F.C. Callan
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  2. Neil Steven
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Callan, M., Steven, N., Krausa, P. et al. Large clonal expansions of CD8+ T cells in acute infectious mononucleosis. Nat Med 2, 906–911 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0896-906

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