Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection and the initiation and development of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods The expression of EBV-LMP1 and E-BV-ZEBRA was detected by two-colour cytofluorography in CD19⁺、CD23⁺ B lymphocytes in peripheral blood of SLE patients.Results The expression of EBV-LMP1 in CD19⁺ Bcells and CD23⁺ Bcells was significantly increased in active stage patients compared with that in remission stage patients,an d in patient group compared with that in controls.The frequencies of expression of EBV-LMP1were significantly higher in CD23⁺ B cells than that in CD19⁺ Bcells in SLEpatients,but not in normal controls.The expression of EBV-ZEBRA could be detected in SLE patients only,and its expression in CD19⁺B cells and CD23⁺ B cells was significantly higher in a ctive stage than that in remission stage.The frequencies of expression of EBV-ZEBRA were significantly higher in CD23⁺ Bcells than that in CD19⁺ B cells in active stage,but not in remission stage.Conclusion EBV infection and replication lead to overactivation of B lymphocytes,which might be related to the initiation and development of SLE.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus,systemic, B-lymphocytes, Herpesvirus 4,human