LINKS BETWEEN PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO XENOBIOTICS, INCREASED INCIDENCE OF HEPATOPATHIES, IMMUNOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES AND EXACERBATION OF LATENT EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTIONS

Disturbances of several humoral and cellular immune parameters are sig nificantly increased in individuals exposed to chemical pollutants. Mo reover, exacerbations of the latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection were more frequently observed in the chemically exposed group than in the control groups. A significant correlation was seen between EBV ex acerbations and the increased number of eosinophils, T-lymphocyte rose tte formation and the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear blood cel ls. Possible links between hepatopathy due to xenobiotics exposition, immunological disturbances and EBV exacerbation are discussed, includi ng a putative role of EBV-induced (autocrine) cytokines.