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Updated: May 14, 2026

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Published on: September 7, 2022
Cytokine profiles in children with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection
Taizo Wada1, Masahiro Muraoka, Tadafumi Yokoyama
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. taizo@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection causes infectious mononucleosis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in children, where EBV infects B and CD8(+) T cells, respectively. We measured pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in both diseases. Significantly higher concentrations of various mediators, including interferon-γ, neopterin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-18, and heme oxygenase-1, were observed in EBV-HLH. Because of their similarity to the profile of familial HLH, this profile was likely a consequence of HLH, but not ectopic infection. TNF-α levels were elevated in both diseases. Elevation of those mediators may contribute to the disease pathogenesis of EBV-HLH by activating and inhibiting host immune responses.

