Epstein-Barr virus reactivation associated with diminished cell-mediated immunity in Antarctic expeditioners

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses were followed in 16 Antarctic expeditioners during winter-over isolation at 2 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition stations. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing was used as an indicator of the CMI response, that was evaluated 2 times before winter isolation and 3 times during isolation. At all 5 evaluation times, 8 or more of the 16 subjects had a diminished CMI response. Diminished DTH was observed on every test occasion in 4/16 subjects; only 2/16 subjects exhibited normal DTH responses for all 5 tests. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect EBV DNA in saliva specimens collected before, during, and after the winter isolation. EBV DNA was present in 17% (111/642) of the saliva specimens; all 16 subjects shed EBV in their saliva on at least 1 occasion. The probability of EBV shedding increased (P = 0.013) from 6% before or after winter isolation to 13% during the winter period. EBV appeared in saliva during the winter isolation more frequently (P < 0.0005) when DTH response was diminished than when DTH was normal. The findings indicate that the psychosocial, physical, and other stresses associated with working and living in physical isolation during the Antarctic winter result in diminished CMI and an accompanying increased reactivation and shedding of latent viruses.

β-Adrenoreceptors Reactivate Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication via PKA-Dependent Control of Viral RTA

“…The gammaherpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus is sensitive to stress-induced glucocorticoids (4,24,35,41,67,68), and the present studies suggest that KSHV might also reactivate during stress-induced autonomic nervous system activity. The emergence of stress-reactive biology in all major classes of Herpesviridae suggests a potential evolutionary advantage for latent viruses to monitor organismal stress levels, which could be diagnostic of reduced cellular immune threat (28,54,72) or lowered host-transmission hurdles (9,69).…”

Immune responses in adult female volunteers during the bed-rest model of spaceflight: Antibodies and cytokines

“…12 Studies of Abbreviations used GEE: General estimating equations HDBR: Head-down bed rest IL-1RA: IL-1 receptor antagonist Kv: K value uX-174: Bacteriophage uX-174 sTNFR1: Soluble TNF receptor 1 plasma cytokine balances in these and other study subjects revealed evidence of T-cell activation events, possibly in response to shedding of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). [12][13][14][15] In the current investigation we assessed the ability of adult female subjects to respond appropriately to immunization with uX-174 and concomitantly measured their plasma cytokine levels.…”

Molecular Parameters for Precise Diagnosis of Asymptomatic Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation in Healthy Carriers

“…Several studies have connected lytic activity and reactivation with rejection episodes in transplant recipients (3,8), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) (20,23,33), and clinical disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (34). Immunosuppression seems to trigger not only reactivation but also physically or psychologically challenging situations that result in diminished cell-mediated immunity (6,14,18).…”