Leukocyte Migration Inhibition with Epstein‐Barr Virus Negative and Positive Cell Extracts

Leukocyte migration inhibition of seronegative and seropositive healthy children and that of patients with infectious mononucleosis was studied in the presence of EBV-negative and -positive cell extracts. Seronegative children showed no alteration of the leukocyte migration in the presence of the extracts. EBV-positive cell extracts caused significant migration inhibition in the group of seropositive healthy children and of IM patients. The effect was specific, since the EBV-negative cell extract had no inhibitory effect. In the acute phase of infectious mononucleosis a depressed response was observed, while after recovery the same migration inhibition could be detected. The possible cause of the depressed cell-mediated immune response in the acute phase of the disease is discussed.