STATUS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND CHARACTER OF IMMUNE DISORDERS IN RELATION TO IMMUNITY STRENGTH TO DIPHTHERIA AND TETANUS IN PERSONS WHO HAVE HAD EBV INFECTION

Abstract

SUMMARY. EBV infection is one of the most common in the world. About 90 % of the world's population is infected with the Epstein-Barr virus.

Active proliferation of the virus in lymphoid organs can lead to significant structural changes and functional activity, cause lymphadenopathy, hepato- and splenomegaly, induce immunodeficiency, lymphoproliferative and oncological processes, chronic fatigue syndrome.

The purpose of the work: to study the state of the immune system and to determine the nature of immune disorders in persons who have had EBV infection in relation to the intensity of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus.

Materials and methods. The state of the immune system and the nature of immune disorders were studied in 16 adults (group 1), who do not have a protective level of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus at the same time, and in 16 adults (group 2), who have a protective level of antibodies to these infections, who fell ill with EBV infection. The control group consisted of 20 people. The average age of the examined was (20.3±2.3) years. In the work, the state of the T-, B- and phagocytic link of immunity was studied. The results of the research were processed by the method of variation and correlation statistics using the "Statistica 10.0 for Windows" program.

Results and discussion. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that in persons 1 gr and 2 gr who fell ill with EBV infection after complete clinical recovery, disorders in the immune system are observed that affect all links of immunity. In the T-chain of immunity, there is a likely decrease in the blast-transforming ability of T-lymphocytes, an increase in the content of CD8⁺ and CD16⁺-cells in the blood, an increase in lymphocytes expressing the apoptosis molecules CD95⁺, Bcl-2, a violation of the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺s, and CD8⁺CD28⁺/CD8⁺ CD28-cells due to an increase in the content of cells with cytotoxic and suppressive properties among lymphocytes. In the phagocytic chain, there is a probable decrease in the absorptive and digestive capacity of blood leukocytes. Among the main classes of immunoglobulins, there is a probable increase in the level of IgG in persons of group 2.

Conclusion. Disorders in the T-, B- and phagocytic links of immunity are observed in persons who have contracted EBV-infection. The absence of a protective level of antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus in persons who have contracted EBV infection is associated with an imbalance among T-regulatory cells, a low content of T-helpers in the blood, a high percentage of T-superpressors, a low level of proliferative activity of T-lymphocytes, a high percentage of T-lymphocytes in the blood lymphocytes expressing markers of apoptosis.