Human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals with oral hairy leukoplakia are able to mount cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to Epstein-Barr virus

OBJECTIVE: Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is a white lesion of the tongue tha t is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and occurs mainly in people infecte d with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), The aim of this study was to det ermine whether the presence of OHL reflects the absence of EBV-specific cyt otoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: EBV-specific CTL responses were measured in HIV-posit ive homosexual men with OHL, HIV-positive homosexual men without OHL, and H IV-negative homosexual men. Also, the phenotypes of cells responsible for E BV-specific responses were studied. RESULTS: Eighty percent (8/10) of HIV-positive subjects with OHL, 52% (12/2 3) of HIV-positive subjects without OHL, and 83% (15/18) HIV-negative subje cts had a positive anti-EBV CTL response (P = 0.004, Kruskal-Wallis test), Two HIV-positive subjects showed a greater anti-EBV CTL response after deve loping OHL than before the appearance of OHL, Additional experiments showed that CD8-positive T cells and CD4-positive T cells were responsible for th e EBV-specific CTL responses. CONCLUSION: Our data show more EBV-specific CTL activities in HIV-positive individuals with OHL than in HIV-positive individuals without OHL, Whether the presence of EBV-specific CTL contributes to resolution of OHL remains t o be clarified.