Immune cells of Ebola survivors show robust, sustained response

“Our findings counter the idea that Ebola virus infection is immunosuppressive, at least in the patients we were able to study,” Anita McElroy, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, said in a press release. “They also demonstrate the value that supportive care may have in enabling the immune system to fight back against Ebola virus infection.”

McElroy and colleagues examined the T- and B-cells of four Ebola survivors to gauge the immune system’s response to Ebola virus infection. Using the CDC’s biosafety level-4 laboratory space, they determined the frequency of activated immune cells, phenotyped activated CD8 T-cells, and measured the kinetics of each patient’s response.

Researchers found high levels of activation in all four patients. Plasmablast frequencies comprised 10% to 50% of B-cells, many of which were immunoglobulin G-positive. Markers of activation and proliferation were expressed in 5% to 30% of CD4 T-cells, while the same response was seen in more than 50% of CD8 T-cells. This immune activity was seen in some patients several weeks after discharge, suggesting ongoing antigen stimulation.

These results contrast previous beliefs concerning immunologic response to Ebola virus disease, the researchers wrote, as lymphopenia and inhibition of interferon response and infected antigen-presenting cells was observed among patients hospitalized with the infection.

see more at: http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/emerging-diseases/news/online/%7B6181dddb-b383-42f6-aec8-2117a6e4ffc2%7D/immune-cells-of-ebola-survivors-show-robust-sustained-response