Detecting Epstein-Barr virus DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been found by many serology studies to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the results of DNA studies have been conflicting. Therefore, instead of antibody to EBV, we studied the association between EBV DNA and SLE. In this case-control study in Taiwan, we enrolled 87 SLE patients and 174 age- and sex-matched controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SLE patients and matched controls were tested for EBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot. Of the 87 SLE patients, 71 (81.6%) were found to be positive for EBV DNA, while 85 (48.9%) of the 174 controls (odds ratio 4.64, 95% confidence interval 2.50-8.62, P < 0.0001) were positive. While the EBV DNA-positive rate did not decline with age in SLE patients (P > 0.05), it did decline with age in controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, based on a real-time quantitative PCR study, we have found a significant difference between EBV viral load in SLE and controls (P = 0.008). Therefore, in our molecular study of DNA level, we found evidence for the association of EBV infection and SLE, suggesting that EBV contributes, if not to the development of SLE, then to disease perpetuation.

Serologic response to Epstein-Barr virus antigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a controlled study

“…Number of studies showed that SLE patients had higher anti-EBV response and EBV DNA burden [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Elevated antinuclear antibodies and altered anti-Epstein-Barr virus immune responses

“…Furthermore, increased viral load in blood and saliva are frequent (Moon et al, 2004;Strauch et al, 1974). These data are further backed by DNA analysis in SLE patients (Yu et al, 2005).…”

Evasion of affinity-based selection in germinal centers by Epstein–Barr virus LMP2A

“…LMP2A AID mice produced autoantibodies against dsDNA and cardiolipin and had detectable immune complex deposition in the kidney; LMP2A CD19 mice also produced anti-cardiolipin antibodies. EBV titers correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity in some patients (32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Both LMP2A CD19 and LMP2A AID mice exhibited hyperimmunoglobulinemia (Fig.…”

“…It has been suggested that impaired affinity maturation in GCs may lead to autoantibody production (31). EBV titers have been reported to correlate with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (32)(33)(34)(35)(36), suggesting a possible involvement of EBV infection in autoantibody production. Indeed, we detected anti-dsDNA antibodies only in sera of LMP2A AID mice (Fig.…”