DETERMINATION OF SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HHV-6-MEDIATED INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS IN CHILDREN BY THE METHOD OF DISCRIMINATORY ANALYSIS

Human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) is a lymphotropic virus that is an etiological agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) in children. HHV-6- mediated infectious mononucleosis (HHV-6M) does not have clearly  defined clinical features. Nowadays immunopathogenetic aspects of  this disease have not been fully understood. The purpose of this  work was to study the characteristics of the quantitative composition  of populations of immunocompetent cells of peripheral  blood in children with HHV-6M. The material for the study was  samples of peripheral blood from children with “infectious  mononucleosis” diagnosis and from virtually healthy children.  Depending on the etiologic cause of the disease, children with IM  were divided into three groups: HHV-6M, IM of other etiology and  mixed infection (combination of HHV-6 and Epstein–Barr virus  and/or Cytomegalovirus). Virtually healthy children formed the  fourth group. In blood samples, the absolute content of the following populations of immunocompetent cells was determined by the  method of flow cytometry: the total population of T-lymphocytes, T- helpers, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, double positive T-lymphocytes  (CD4+CD8+), NK cells and B-lymphocytes. Discriminant analysis  was carried out: based on the obtained data on the population  composition of blood cells we constructed a model of a child’s  attribution to one of the four groups analyzed in pairs. We used the  method of machine learning — the algorithm of gradient boosting  over decision trees. It was determined whether it is possible to  classify patients on the basis of the studied indicators and which  combination of indicators is optimal for classification. As a result of  the study it was possible to classify the following pairs of groups:  healthy children — children with HHV- 6M, healthy children —  children with IM of other etiology, children with HHV-6M — children  with IM of other etiology. When solving the problem of classifying  children from group with mixed infection and from any other group,  it was not possible to find a model of satisfactory quality. In  comparison with virtually healthy children, children with HHV-6M were characterized by an increased content of the total  population of T-lymphocytes and cytotoxic T-cells, as well as by a  reduced content of doub le-positive T-lymphocytes. Compared with  children with IM of other etiology, children with HHV-6M were  characterized by an increased content of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, T- helpers, B-lymphocytes and a reduced number of double-positive T  cells. Our results indicate that HHV-6-mediated infectious  mononucleosis causes changes in the quantitative composition of  certain populations of immunocompetent cells of peripheral blood,  different from those of other etiology, in children.