A. Markotic et al., Role of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) phenotype changes in the pathogenesis of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), CLIN EXP IM, 115(2), 1999, pp. 329-334
Hantaviruses cause an important human illness, HFRS. Blood samples from 22
HFRS-positive, six seronegative patients and 15 healthy controls were exami
ned in 1995, during the largest HFRS epidemic in Croatia. Results of double
- and triple-colour immunofluorescence analysis showed an increased percent
age of cytotoxic T cells (CD3(+)CD8(+)) in seropositive patients compared w
ith seronegatives and healthy controls. The majority of seropositive HFRS p
atients expressed activation and memory antigens on T and B lymphocytes. Th
e percentage of CD23(+) and CD21(+) B lymphocytes was lower in seropositive
patients. HFRS patients had elevated levels of sCD23 and five had elevated
total IgE. The increased expression of both early and late T cell activati
on antigens, e.g. CD25, CD71 and HLA-DR, memory cells and sCD23 positively
correlated with biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, urea, alpha(2)-globulin)
during the acute phase of HFRS. The phenotypic changes observed, especially
early and late T cell activation markers, as well as memory cells, could b
e useful parameters in the evaluation of HFRS course, and prognostic factor
s of HFRS severity. Additional attention should be paid to liver involvemen
t in the pathogenesis of HFRS.