Expression of CD3, CD69, CD71 and viral glycoprotein (gpE\ORF68) to determine lymphocyte activation among Herpes Zoster patients | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 04 November 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.428195.3270 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Shaimaa Abd Alridha Hameed1* 1; Noor Naji Al-Hayani* 2; Husam Ali salem* 3; Muhannad Ziad Ali* 4 | ||
| 1Department of Laboratory, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Iraq | ||
| 2Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Anbar, Iraq | ||
| 3Baghdad Center of Dermatology and Venereology/Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq | ||
| 4Dermatological Specialty Center, Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) may persist in dormancy for decades due to the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) within sensory ganglia. Previous exposure, usually in childhood, is essential for later reactivation. Despite global distribution, HZ remains a significant public health concern. It is clinically characterized by a unilateral erythematous-vesicular rash and localized pain. Objective: This study evaluated and compared current approaches for detecting VZV glycoprotein E (gpE) using immunocytochemistry (ICC), alongside the utility of flow cytometric analysis of T-cell activation markers CD69 and CD71 following polyclonal stimulation with anti-CD3 and VZV antigens. Methods: Between December 2023 and December 2024, flow cytometry data (CD3, CD69, CD71) were collected and correlated with ICC results from 50 T-lymphocyte samples derived from shingles cases. Expression profiles were assessed, and findings of gpE by ICC on cytology samples were compared with CD marker expression. Results: Patients were predominantly aged 50–59 years (32%), with a mean age of 51.38 ± 12.162. Controls were mostly 40–49 years old (28%), with a mean age of 45.56 ± 13.665. Infected CD3 lymphocytes showed elevated CD69 expression, indicating early activation, but reduced CD71, reflecting impaired proliferative capacity. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between gpE detection by ICC and higher CD marker expression by flow cytometry. Conclusions: Flow cytometric evaluation of CD3, CD69, and CD71 provides a complementary approach to ICC in characterizing shingles. The correlation of CD69 and CD71 expression with gpE highlights their potential diagnostic and classificatory value in VZV reactivation studies. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| CD3; CD69; CD71; shingles; gpE | ||
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