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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Published on: September 7, 2022
EBV Impact in Peripheral Macrophages' Polarization Cytokines in Pediatric Patients
Agustina Moyano1, Natalia Ferressini Gerpe1, Maria Eugenia Amarillo1
1Multidisciplinary Institute for Investigation in Pediatric Pathologies (IMIPP), CONICET-GCBA, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Pathology Division, Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina.
Abstract:
Macrophages are exceptionally flexible cells. The presence of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α results in an M1 (CD68) activation, while cytokines such as IL-10 or TGF-β induce the M2 (CD163) activation. Our aim was to study the behavior of peripheral cytokines involved in macrophage polarization and relate them with tissue findings to further comprehend the role of macrophages in EBV pediatric infection. We studied cytokine expression in tonsils and peripheral blood samples of children in different stages of infection. Peripheral cytokines were compared with macrophage polarization markers and viral protein expression in tonsils. Only IL-10 showed a negative correlation between compartments, exclusively in patients undergoing viral reactivation (R). Higher expressions of peripheral IL-1β, IL-23, and IL-12p40 in R children were observed. Lower expressions of local and peripheral TNF-α in patients with broader expressions of latent and lytic viral proteins were demonstrated. In healthy carrier (HC) patients, IL-23 positively correlated with CD163, and IP-10 positively correlated with CD68. Our results indicated that EBV might modulate antigen expression in the presence of TNF-α and influence peripheral cytokine expression differently in each stage of infection. Moreover, peripheral cytokines might have a particular role in macrophage polarization in HC.
Insights
This study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection impacts macrophage polarization through specific cytokines. Peripheral cytokines play a key role in macrophage activation during different EBV infection stages in children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Macrophages exhibit plasticity, with M1 (CD68) and M2 (CD163) polarization driven by distinct cytokine environments (IFN-γ, TNF-α for M1; IL-10, TGF-β for M2).
- Understanding macrophage roles is crucial for comprehending pediatric Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate peripheral cytokine behavior in pediatric EBV infection.
- To correlate peripheral cytokines with tissue findings and macrophage polarization.
- To elucidate the role of macrophages in different stages of EBV infection.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed cytokine expression in tonsil and peripheral blood samples from children at various EBV infection stages.
- Compared peripheral cytokines with macrophage polarization markers (CD68, CD163) and viral protein expression in tonsils.
- Examined correlations between local and peripheral cytokine levels and macrophage markers.
Main Results:
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) showed a negative correlation between compartments only during viral reactivation (R).
- Children with viral reactivation exhibited higher peripheral IL-1β, IL-23, and IL-12p40.
- Lower TNF-α levels were observed in patients with broader EBV latent and lytic protein expression; IL-23 correlated with CD163, and IP-10 with CD68 in healthy carriers (HC).
Conclusions:
- EBV infection influences antigen expression and peripheral cytokine profiles differently across infection stages.
- Peripheral cytokines may play a specific role in macrophage polarization in healthy EBV carriers.
- The study highlights the complex interplay between EBV, cytokines, and macrophage polarization in pediatric infections.
