Evaluating New Biomarkers for Epstein Barr Virus Infection in Egypt

Abstract

Some reports have suggested EBV to be a trigger agent for an autoimmune hepatitis, even EBV has been suspected as a probable cause of particular granulomas in the liver and even in a rare vanishing bile duct syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate CD19 + , CD23 + and CD24 + B-lymphocytes as biomarkers for EBV early diagnosis in EBV-liver disease patients. Subjects & Fifty subjects included in this work, grouped into: control group and EBV mono-infected patients' group. Immunophenotyping in peripheral blood samples was performed for CD19 + , CD23 + and CD24 + B-cells using flow cytometry technique. CD23 + B-cells frequency was the most significant (P <0.001) changed CD marker-among the estimated CDs-in EBV group versus control group (49.43±0.58 vs 21.18±1.10), respectively. Both CD19 + and CD23 + B-cells frequency correlate strongly with liver transaminases. Diagnostic performance of this panel of CD markers was obtained by applying receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis; CD23 + B-cell frequency was the most precise CD marker-of this panel-in distinguishing EBV cases from controls. The AUC of CD23 + B-cell frequency was 0.998, with sensitivity= 96% and specificity= 100% at cut-off value of 44.4%. Its NPV was ultimate (100%). On the other hand, CD19 + B-cells frequency did not show any response as diagnostic tool, and CD24 + B-cells frequency showed very little response in this context. CD23 + B-cell frequency has a strong correlation with liver transaminases which may mirrored the severity of the disease. Additionally, it may represent a promising co-biomarker with the currently used EBV-viral capsid antigen (EBV-VCA) antibodies for early EBV diagnosis.