Background: Switched and nonswitched memory B cells, which usually constitute the main reservoirs of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV), are rapidly depleted in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Because the EBV load is frequently increased in these patients, other B cell reservoirs might participate in EBV persistence.
Methods: We examined the combined expression of CD27, SIgD/G/M, CD38, CD10, CD5, CXCR5, CD62L, CD44, and CXCR3 on B cells from healthy donors (n = 30) and from HIV type 1-infected patients (n = 23) at diagnosis and after highly active antiretroviral therapy. The plasma HIV load and the DNA EBV load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed.
Results: Increased frequencies of CD38+SIgD+CD10+ B cells were found in patients with an EBV load >10(3)copies per 10(6)peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a strong depletion of memory B cells. This phenotype resembles that of transitional B cell subsets. Elevated percentages of these B cells were still found in 2 patients showing no decrease in EBV load after highly active antiretroviral therapy.
Conclusions: Because transitional-like B cells persist concomitantly with high EBV load after highly active antiretroviral therapy, we suggest that this population might be an alternative EBV reservoir in patients with chronic HIV infection who have strongly reduced numbers of memory B cells. The consequences of EBV infection of immature B cells are discussed with regard to B cell maturation and a higher prevalence of B cell lymphoma in HIV‐infected patients.