PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Draborg, Anette Holck AU - Jacobsen, Søren AU - Westergaard, Marie AU - Mortensen, Shila AU - Larsen, Janni Lisander AU - Houen, Gunnar AU - Duus, Karen TI - Reduced response to Epstein–Barr virus antigens by T-cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients AID - 10.1136/lupus-2014-000015 DP - 2014 Apr 01 TA - Lupus Science & Medicine PG - e000015 VI - 1 IP - 1 4099 - http://lupus.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000015.short 4100 - http://lupus.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000015.full SO - Lupus Sci & Med2014 Apr 01; 1 AB - Objective Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has for long been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we investigated the levels of latent and lytic antigen EBV-specific T-cells and antibodies in SLE patients. Methods T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and antibodies were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results SLE patients showed a significantly reduced number of activated (CD69) T-cells upon ex vivo stimulation with EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 1 or EBV early antigen diffuse (EBV-EA/D) in whole blood samples compared with healthy controls. Also, a reduced number of T-cells from SLE patients were found to produce interferon-γ upon stimulation with these antigens. Importantly, responses to a superantigen were normal in SLE patients. Compared with healthy controls, SLE patients had fewer EBV-specific T-cells but higher titres of antibodies against EBV. Furthermore, an inverse correlation was revealed between the number of lytic antigen EBV-specific T-cells and disease activity of the SLE patients, with high-activity SLE patients having fewer T-cells than low-activity SLE patients. Conclusions These results indicate a limited or a defective EBV-specific T-cell response in SLE patients, which may suggest poor control of EBV infection in SLE with an immune reaction shift towards a humoral response in an attempt to control viral reactivation. A role for decreased control of EBV as a contributing agent in the development or exacerbation of SLE is proposed.