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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Published on: September 7, 2022
The Nature and Clinical Significance of Atypical Mononuclear Cells in Infectious Mononucleosis Caused by the
Olga S Fedyanina1,2, Anna E Filippova1, Olga I Demina3,4
1Dmitry Rogachev National Research Centre for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
Atypical mononuclear cells (AM) appear in significant numbers in peripheral blood of patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM). We investigated the number and lineage-specific clusters of differentiation (CD) expression of atypical mononuclear cells in 110 children with IM using the anti-CD antibody microarray for panning leukocytes by their surface markers prior to morphology examination. The AM population consisted primarily of CD8+ T cells with a small fraction (0%-2% of all lymphocytes) of CD19+ B lymphocytes. AM amount in children with mononucleosis caused by primary EBV infection was significantly higher than for IM caused by EBV reactivation or other viruses and constituted 1%-53% of all peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to 0%-11% and 0%-8%, respectively. Children failing to recover from classic IM associated with primary EBV infection within 6 months had significantly lower percentage of CD8+ AM compared to patients with normal recovery rate.
Insights
Atypical mononuclear cells (AM), primarily CD8+ T cells, are key indicators in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM). Lower CD8+ AM percentages correlate with slower recovery from primary EBV infections in children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Atypical mononuclear cells (AM) are characteristic of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM).
- Understanding the phenotype and quantity of AM is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring IM, especially in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the number and CD expression of atypical mononuclear cells in children with IM.
- To differentiate AM populations in primary EBV infection, EBV reactivation, and other viral infections.
- To explore the relationship between AM characteristics and recovery rates in pediatric IM.
Main Methods:
- Utilized anti-CD antibody microarray for leukocyte analysis in 110 children with IM.
- Panned leukocytes based on surface markers before morphology examination.
- Quantified AM populations and analyzed CD expression (CD8+, CD19+).
Main Results:
- AM population in IM predominantly comprised CD8+ T cells, with a minor fraction of CD19+ B cells.
- Higher AM counts were observed in primary EBV infections compared to EBV reactivation or other viral causes.
- Children with delayed recovery from primary EBV-associated IM showed significantly lower percentages of CD8+ AM.
Conclusions:
- CD8+ T cells are the primary component of atypical mononuclear cells in pediatric IM.
- AM quantification and CD8+ T cell percentage can serve as biomarkers for IM diagnosis and prognosis.
- Lower CD8+ AM levels may indicate a prolonged recovery period in children with primary EBV infection.
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