Abstract
The symptoms of infectious mononucleosis (IM) are thought to be caused by T cell activation and cytokine production. Surface lymphocyte activation marker (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP) regulates lymphocyte activation via signals from cell-surface CD244 (2B4) and SLAM (CD150). We followed T cell activation via this SAP/SLAM/CD244 pathway in IM and analyzed whether the results were associated with clinical severity. At diagnosis, SAP, SLAM, and CD244 were significantly up-regulated on CD4 and CD8 T cells; expression decreased during IM, but CD244 and SLAM levels remained higher on CD8 cells 40 days later. There were significantly more lymphocytes expressing CD8 and CD244/CD8 in patients with severe sore throat. The expression of CD8 alone and CD244 on CD8 cells correlated with increased virus load. We suggest that T cells expressing CD244 and SLAM are responsible for the clinical features of IM but that the control of activation is maintained by parallel increased expression of SAP.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acute Disease
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Antigens, CD / metabolism*
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CD4 Antigens / metabolism
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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CD8 Antigens / metabolism
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
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DNA, Viral / blood
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Female
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Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins / metabolism*
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Infectious Mononucleosis / immunology
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Infectious Mononucleosis / physiopathology*
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Infectious Mononucleosis / virology
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
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Lymphocyte Activation*
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Male
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Pharyngitis / immunology
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Pharyngitis / physiopathology
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Pharyngitis / virology
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
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Severity of Illness Index
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
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Up-Regulation*
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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CD244 protein, human
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CD4 Antigens
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CD8 Antigens
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Carrier Proteins
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DNA, Viral
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Glycoproteins
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Immunoglobulins
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, Immunologic
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SH2D1A protein, human
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SLAMF1 protein, human
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family
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Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1