Infectious Mononucleosis

[Apoptosis]

I was wondering why a disease that causes mononucleosis is associated with polyclonal activation?

 

Isn’t mononucleosis just a rise in the number of monocytes in the blood? B cells are the ones responsible for polyclonal activation, so why are they involved in this scenario?

[CharonY]

Mononucleosis is caused by the infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. In the later phases it infects B-Cells. The infected B-cells in turn activate immune responses against them.