Granulocyte and lymphocyte membrane receptors in aseptic meningitis, infectious mononucleosis and other viral infections.

Granulocytes and lymphocytes from 44 patients with acute viral infections were examined for membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E-R), for the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma-R) and for complement component C3b (C3b-R). Aseptic meningitis was associated with a decrease in Fc gamma-R and C3b-R bearing granulocytes but an increase in the proportions of lymphocytes bearing the same receptors. Patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) had a decreased percentage of C3b-R bearing granulocytes, an increase of E-R bearing T lymphocytes and a slight decrease in the proportion of Fc gamma-R and C3b-R bearing lymphocytes. Cerebrospinal fluid from IM patients contained 92-98% T lymphocytes. The group of patients with other viral infections showed a decreased percentage of granulocytes bearing Fc gamma-R and C3b-R, and of E-R bearing lymphocytes. The decrease of Fc gamma-R and C3b-R bearing granulocytes in viral infections may be of importance in relation to the increased risk of bacterial superinfection in these patients.