Increased susceptibility to HIV-1 of peripheral blood lymphocytes in acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an important pathogen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals that causes lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders upon disease progression; however, interaction between the two viruses during acute infection is not well known. Expression of CCR5, a major coreceptor for HIV, was enhanced on CD4+ T cells from patients with acute EBV infection. Furthermore, susceptibility of those cells to R5-HIV-1, but not X4-HIV-1, was increased. EBV effects on CCR5 expression on or susceptibility to R5-HIV-1 of CD4+ T cells did not require coinfection of the same cell with the two viruses, because CD4+ T cells from patients with acute EBV infection were not infected with EBV. Considering that both HIV and EBV are transmitted by intimate contact, such possible interaction between the two viruses may have implications for viral transmission and the pathogenesis of HIV disease.