Frequent intrathecal production of antibodies to the viral capsid antigen of Epstein-Barr virus in patients with central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder

J Neuroimmunol. 2022 Aug 15:369:577902. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577902. Epub 2022 Jun 2.

Abstract

Primary central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PCNS-PTLD) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We analysed intrathecal production of EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG in nine patients with PNCS-PTLD and 20 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NINDs). Intrathecally produced VCA-IgG was detected in 7/9 (78%), VCA-IgA in 6/9 (67%) and EBNA-1-IgG in 2/9 (22%) patients with PCNS-PTLD, but not in NINDs. This exploratory study suggests that intrathecal EBV antibody production might be frequent in PCNS-PTLD. Detecting intrathecally produced VCA-IgG and VCA-IgA could thus potentially be helpful for diagnosing PCNS-PTLD.

Keywords: Antibody index; Central nervous system; Cerebrospinal fluid; Epstein-Barr virus, viral capsid antigen; Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Capsid
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Central Nervous System
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / complications
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders* / complications

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G