Abrogation of cell-mediated immunity by a serum blocking factor isolated from patients with infectious mononucleosis

J Infect Dis. 1979 Jul;140(1):22-32. doi: 10.1093/infdis/140.1.22.

Abstract

Lymphocytes from 80% of patients with infectious mononucleosis in this study failed to produce macrophage migration-inhibition factor in response to partially purified early antigen of Epstein-Barr virus or to tetanus toxoid, whereas lymphocytes from normal subjects did produce this lymphokine. Subsequent analysis of serum from the patients with infectious mononucleosis revealed a serum factor that completely abrogated antigen-specific inhibition of migration by human leukocytes as well as lymphocyte blastogenesis. The serum blocking factor was present in sera from 11 (73%) of 15 patients with infectious mononucleos but only in sera from two (13%) of 15 normal subjects. Samples of serum from five of the patients with infectious mononucleosis and five normal subjects were fractionated with use of Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and the eluants were assayed for several substances known to inhibit cell-mediated immunity. Serum blocking factor activity could be demonstrated only in fractionated sera from patients with infectious mononucleosis. The serum blocking factor is postulated to be either a soluble immune complex or some as yet unidentified immunoregulatory globulin contained in the IgG fraction of human serum.

MeSH terms

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Cell Migration Inhibition
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Epitopes
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / biosynthesis
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
  • Tetanus Toxoid